Page 14 of Exposed

Yet also,

I am ablaze with arousal.

I watch you come.

At the last moment, you pull out, and your eyes are dark orbs of ice as you release your orgasm onto Rachel’s back. I watch that, watch the white stream leave the tip of your penis and watch it hit pale, pale skin, watch your face as you orgasm.

You smack Rachel’s bottom once more, almost affectionately, and then slide off the bed.

I am off the bed, darting past you.

“Come back here, X.” It is a command.

I disobey. Run. Run. Slam into the silver door of the elevator, slam a palm against the call button. I hear your step down the hall.

“X, I saidcome backhere!”

I do not reply. I am breathless, chest aching, lungs burning. I cannot breathe.

I am dizzy.

The elevator arrives, and I lurch onto it, stab at the button that will take me to the lobby. As the doors slide closed, I see you.

Bare from the waist up, wearing only slacks. Your chest glistens with sweat. Your hair is in disarray. You are furious.

Your hands stop the door from closing, and panic seizes me. But instead of freezing me, this time, it spurs me to action.

“Why do you never treat me the way you treat her?” I hear my voice say, breathless, shrill, nearly sobbing. “Why don’t you fuck me the way you do her?”

“She’s an apprentice—” you start.

I see Rachel behind you, peeking around the corner. Shamelessly naked, still. Curious.

“So?”

“You’re worth more than she is. She’ll only ever be a Bride. You’re... You are Madame X.”

Rachel, behind you, is livid. Tears fill brown eyes. “Youbastard.” This is hissed.

You whirl. “Rachel, wait.”

You seem almost human, suddenly. Caught between Rachel and me.

“But I’m not worth being naked with. Not worth behaving as if youwantto be with me. As if you enjoyfuckingme, like you obviously do her.” I cannot stop the words. It is an avalanche. “I am just a possession to you, Caleb. You keep me because you like owning me, not because youlikeme. Not because youenjoyme.”

None of this makes any sense. I am jealous, but I hate you. Yet I also need you, want you, desire to be treated by you the way you treat Rachel. I want—

I do not know.

Nothing I want makes any damned sense.

I do not understand myself.

What do I want?

Freedom.

I shove you. Hard. Surprised, you stumble backward, and I hear Rachel gasp in surprise.