Page 9

8

CHLOE

“ W hat happened?”

Black spots danced in my vision as I slowly rose back to consciousness and pushed myself upright. My mouth was dry, and I tried to speak, swallowing the growing lump in my throat. I could feel their gazes piercing through me as I licked my dry, cracked lips.

Both men stood over me, waiting, and I lifted my head bracing on the table to steady myself. My mouth felt like cotton, but I could finally speak up. “Water please?”

I rubbed my temples tenderly as my headache slowly subsided. It felt like I was still in a dream-like state. “You were knocked out cold, but you’re safe,” King said over the running water.

This is our game now…

What did they mean by that? I didn’t even ask for round one.

King handed me the water and my eyes glazed over his naked torso, nothing but a towel resting dangerously low on his waist.

My eyes raked over Lux’s shirtless figure. The mud smearing over his tattoos and twigs stuck out of his hair. I stifled a giggle and spread my legs just enough to entice him, remembering how aroused he was from simply seeing me bound and gagged.

“You moan so beautifully in your sleep. Your pussy is greedy Chloe,” Lux whispered against my hair with a playful glint in his eye.

“May I go take a shower?” My words came out as a quiet squeak and I trained my eyes on the ceiling, suddenly feeling clammy and extremely trapped.

“Go ahead. We’ll wait.” My ears perked, picking up on the intensity of his words. Would they?

Shifting uncomfortably, I scurried up the stairs quickly. Trying to escape the tension before they asked questions. Flashbacks came to the forefront of my mind, and my pulse raced. The last thing I needed was a panic attack in front of these men.

I had tried talking to people after that night, but nobody really listened. Only asked me stupid fucking questions like what I was wearing, or if I was leading anyone on. All they cared about is if I was pressing charges or not. I tried and failed and now he’s untouchable.

I thought he loved me, but I was nothing more than a pawn in his game of chess to get close to my father. If he married me, he had everything my father had worked for, at least my share. He left me for dead, trash on the side of the road. It was hard to accept I would never get justice, but I take it one day at a time.

Tears sprung to my eyes and my bottom lip quivered as I walked along the cool porcelain tile. It was a large bathroom with ample room, but the piping was old and made clunking sounds. While the hot water tank tried to heat the water enough to step in.

It reached the desired temperature, and I stepped into the shower, bracing my hands against the wall, allowing myself to feel the scalding hot water run down my back like a waterfall.

I wanted to feel desired, but each time I thought of another man claiming to own me, it made my skin crawl. Was I seeking freedom from Ezra? My mind?

Maybe I was seeking another prison. To go back to the only thing I knew. Each choice felt like a double-edged sword, and I feared being pierced by either end in a losing battle.

Memories flooded back—his hands on my neck, the menacing voice echoing in my head.

You’re mine.

Despite the hot water cascading down my body, I shivered. The weight of his words etched in my mind. It was a different kind of prison. One I feared I’d never be rid of. I read somewhere that when you take extra hot showers it’s a form of self-harm.

I scoffed to myself. Well, I’m not a medical professional, but if this gave me the feeling I was looking for, the pain I now craved, then maybe it would quiet the racing thoughts. I’m okay with losing a layer or two of skin to chase that high.

I wanted to feel alive again, instead of a shell of my former self. But at what cost? So far, I’ve enjoyed tonight’s events, but I’d be lying if it didn’t bring memories to the surface, threatening to swallow me whole.

The shower curtain flew open, ripping me from the fleeting thoughts, and my eyes caught on Lux and his naked body.

“You okay?”

His anxiousness showed as his fingers drummed a smooth rhythm against his thigh. The thought of him coming to check on me erased some of the tension that coiled in my chest, and I was thankful.

All I could do was shake my head. “I’m okay,” I lied, turning my back to him, embarrassed that I let tears fall over this situation. One I could leave anytime I wanted. So why couldn’t I?

“I need a shower too. May I join you?”

He stepped in and the air thickened around me. My heart pulsed in my throat and the walls closed in on me. My breath hitched, watching as the scalding hot water met his skin and he winced.

“You’re not going to like it in here. It’s really hot.” I sniffed, not caring that these kinky adventures I chased were starting to take a toll on me, but also wanting to add a bit of humor to the situation. “Plus, you would have to take your mask off unless you want me to see you.”

I couldn’t help the anticipation that sat within me at the prospect. I wanted to see his face as it contorted into a mixture of pleasure and pain.

“Nice try,” he chuckled. “Turn around.” His tone was playful yet held a stern warning.

The sound of his mask lifting made my stomach flutter, and I wanted to turn around. At this moment though, he trusted me enough to do the opposite.

He ran his nose along my shoulder and rested his lips at the nape of my neck, his stubble tickling the sensitive area.

I stood frozen as a thin piece of fabric covered my eyes and knotted in the back of my head. “Do you trust me, Chloe?”

My bottom lip quivered. “No.”

He took the delicate skin between his teeth and I arched my back against him. Feeling the scalding hot water fall down his chest in a stream, and I felt bad he had to endure that.

He chuckled. “Probably a good idea.”

I waited with bated breath for his next move, but he only grabbed the washcloth from my hand and ran the soapy object down my arms and across my abdomen. Gentle but firm, and I shuddered against him. Squeezing my breasts, his soapy fingers ran the cloth over my nipples and my breath hitched.

“Spread your legs for me,” he commanded, but it still came as a quiet order.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“Just shut up and let me take care of you.”

Resting against the wall, I held back a moan as he knelt to the ground and took a hold of my calf, grazing the soapy cloth along every dip and curve. It burned a bit from the cuts I’d gathered, and my body tensed under his touch.

“I’m sorry.” I could feel him studying me. Washing in slow circles like he was washing his car. “We were too rough.”

My hand moved to his shoulder and squeezed. “I can handle it. I’m pretty resilient.”

This was intimacy in a whole different form. Something I wasn’t used to. It felt just as satisfying when compared with the rough play, and I wanted to return the favor. To make him feel desired, as I did.

“Can I touch you?” In the heat of the moment I dug down deep and found the courage to try and take some control.

Surprisingly, he obliged. The soapy cloth found it’s way into my hand and I involuntarily squeezed it out as he stood.

“You can. It’s just us now.” He leaned down, capturing my lips in his. It took me by surprise, but quickly I melted into him.

It was gentle and his lips were soft, a spark igniting as our mouths moved in sync. My tongue swiped across his bottom lip, and he smiled into the kiss. His hand found the back of my neck, pulling me in closer. Relishing any private intimacy he could get before he had to share again.

My hand moved down his chest and across his hip, resting there, noticing a few raised scars along the way. He hissed as my soapy hand grasped his cock and I ran my hand across it tenderly.

“Don’t worry, I won’t get soap anywhere it would burn,” I smiled.

We laughed together and I remembered what the night consisted of. My face morphed into a pout. How could I feel this fluttering in my chest with someone I couldn’t see? The cloth caressed his body, and the water washed it away in a steady waterfall.

The steam billowed around us, and the energy of the room shifted as he held me close. It was almost familiar. The door creaked open, ruining the intimate moment.

“Don’t keep me waiting.” His tone was playful and almost mocking as he sang out. “My dick is already hard again.”

We pulled away and my hand felt the gruff features of his face. The rough stubble tickled his jawline and over his chin, creeping softly along his cheeks. I needed to see him and hastily reached for the fabric, trying to rip it off when he grabbed my wrist in mid-air.

“I said no. Don’t make me tell you again.”

The water shut off and I swallowed back the hurt. Lightly pushing me out, I shivered as the heat evaporated from my body.

Disappointed when he spoke, I ripped the towel from his hand, feeling the soft cotton against me. He had the mask back on and his voice distorted.

“Third door on the left. Don’t keep us waiting.” He raised the cotton over my eyes, removed the wet fabric, and let it fall to the floor.

I placed my hands against my hips and tapped my foot on the wet floor anxiously. He sounded as frustrated as I felt. Scoffing as he closed the door softly behind him.

“Your stupid voice thing got wet! It glitched out.” I spit into the now empty bathroom.

Wait, third door. That’s my father’s office. My head spun and the confusion was evident on my face as I watched my reflection in the mirror.

“What the hell was that?”

King

The various toys and other instruments splayed across the far wall of her father’s office, and I couldn’t help but read over the newspaper clippings.

Most were about sports, some larger news stories about some organization that runs the city, and multiple clippings regarding Chloe.

My face darkened at one that had various scribbles in permanent marker. Bracing both hands against the wall I squinted, trying to make out the words on the page through the bleed of the marker, and it was unmistakable.

Skater Chloe Whitlock forfeits coaching position over life altering injury.

What drove her to this point? Reducing herself to a piece of meat. To give up all that potential. Heat rose, slowly encasing me. Now, looking back on it, there was a tiny speck of longing and regret. Fear every time she was around the ice.

The door creaked open, and Lux walked through with a cheshire grin on his face. I couldn’t help but push my feelings aside. We’d been through everything together, so when he brought this idea to my attention, I said yes immediately.

Not only was she a piece of hot ass I’ve wanted to hit for a while. I was hitting that shit with my best friend, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything better with my night.

But Christ, what did he drag me into? It was starting to feel like reality TV, and I was waiting for someone to jump out of a random place and scream that I’d been set up.

“She coming, or did she tap out?” My question gave way to an upturned smile, and Lux looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

I smacked his chest. The sound echoing off the walls of the small room. “We’re just getting started.”

His eyes glistened, lost in thought, and I raised my brow in disbelief when he locked the door. Multiple times, he opened and closed his mouth and waved his hands around in contemplation.

A tornado was whipping around, threatening to disrupt everything in his head, and I snapped in his face so he could get straight and focused.

“You good man?”

“We shouldn’t be here…I shouldn’t have agreed to this.”

He felt deeper on an emotional level than I did. Ninety percent of the time, waking up the next day surprised me. It was like getting a box of chocolates. Some days you took a bite, and it was one of the better flavors, easy and carefree. Others, you got something like orange… those you loved most, stepped out of your way and whispered when you entered a room.

The helplessness hung plainly on my face, not knowing how to help him. Taking a bullet for this man was a piece of cake. I lived for his flaws and smart-ass remarks, and the unconditional love he poured into everyone. Even when they didn’t deserve it. His next statement threw me.

“I need her…with me.” His heavy breath swirled around me, and his face paled. I didn’t want him to pass out on me. “I need to keep her. She’s not leaving here tonight without me.”

“What the fuck does that mean? Keep her? She’s not a fucking dog.” I said, dumbfounded.

He paced the room, running his fingers along the sky blue wallpaper and cleared his throat.

“I've made too many mistakes. There’s too many regrets. She’s broken, and I need her with me. Where I can keep her safe, desired…and loved.” Goosebumps raised on my warm skin as he explained what he wanted. “Behind closed doors, my beautiful pet; our beautiful pet. Nobody touches her ever again.”

Flattered to know he had that much faith in me, and the only person he trusted enough to share these experiences with turned me on. He’d made the decision the moment he agreed to do this.

My fingers ran through my hair and scoffed in his direction. “I mean, it’s not that crazy of an idea, but doesn’t she kind of need to agree or, ya know, love you back?”

“She loves me, and I’ll make her see it.” His eyes darkened on mine, and I couldn’t help the pride that swelled in my chest at his words. He was never this assertive, and I found my erection straining against my briefs. “When I take this mask off, she’s never going to forget what I can do for her…what I can and will give her. Any time she wants it, without hesitation.”

I was so confused. That whiplash of emotions felt like a backhand to the face, and I laughed. This is why I never got mixed up in feelings. Somewhere along the way, things get really messy.

“Put her into a submissive state. I need her to be completely vulnerable with us, but if you fucking hurt her….I won’t hesitate to end you, and I won’t miss.”

“Is that a threat?”

His forefinger and thumb made an outline of a gun, and my breath hitched as his hand forced itself up toward the ceiling, sending the imaginary bullet right between my eyes. “When it comes to her, it’s a promise.”

Making long strides toward him, I wrapped my large hand around his throat and backed him into the wall, my lips hovering just over his. Leaning down to lick at his carotid sensuously, my other hand dipped below the towel gripping his hardening cock.

“You’ll take a skate to the throat faster than you could get to your gun.” I threatened in a menacing whisper, squeezing his neck hotly before a small knock rapped three times on the door. “She may be your woman, but you will always be my good boy. Won’t you?”

Clawing at my hand, trying to get a breath in. I grinned devilishly at the attempt and let up just enough to let him breathe comfortably.

His jaw clenching at what he knew but wouldn’t admit. He had no problem dropping to his knees for me, like she would.

“She doesn’t need to be put in a submissive state dumbass. She’s already there, and we need to use that in a healthy way. That’s where I come in. You still have a lot to learn. Luckily, I can teach her. Just as I’ve taught you.”

He groaned as I took his bottom lip between my teeth, flicking my thumb across his tip in the way he liked. Covering his mouth with mine, I claimed him.

Giving a few hard strokes before ripping my hand away. Leaving him a needy mess, his chest tight as he stood frozen and breathless. Trying to compose himself.

“Why’d you stop?” I raised a brow, and a sly grin sat on my face.

A moment later she stepped over the threshold. Her bare breasts pushed up against her body from the towel and her hair fell around her in long wisps. Some of the wet curls stuck to her face, and I saw what he did at that moment.

I was fully okay being called upon when needed, but they needed to be pushed together. He would never make the first move.

Realization crossed my mind. She would have his children, and he would spoil her. He would show her what genuine love was.

Whether she was ready to accept it or not was another story.