Page 52 of Gilded Locks

“I heard you.”

The room stilled and she braced for another consequence.

“You don’t speak to me like that.”

“Or what? Will you shove something up my ass? Or better yet, brand me?”

His glared turned ice cold, but rather than respond, he pivoted and walked out of the room, slamming the door and leaving her there. No blanket. No towel. Not even clothes.

She realized then that his abandonment was her punishment. And she hated that she felt his angry desertion in the pit of her soul.

Chapter 12

Cradled From The Wreckage

Stone stalked into the hall, fists tight and shoulders heaving. He shouldn’t have done that. He could have been more gentle with her, more patient. Christ, it was clear she hadn’t done anything like that before and she’d more than pleased him, meeting every command and submitting even when it cost her in pride. So what if she bristled at the thought of being permanently marked? So had he, back in the day.

“Fuck!”

“Problem?”

Stone spun to find Ash leaning casually against the wall, watching him. How long had he been standing there? “Why are you lurking in the halls?”

Ash’s brows shot up. “That was some show. Bet her ass is sore tomorrow.”

She was probably sore right now. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

“I’ll enjoy it more when it’s my turn again.”

All three of them were possessive due to their past. Growing up with nothing did that to a man. Now, they had everything, but old habits die hard. “You’re next. She’s not ready for Hunter yet.”

Ash chuckled. “Think she’ll ever be?”

He pressed his lips tight. “She’s not a virgin?—”

“No shit.”

“But she’s inexperienced.” Something Stone should have kept in mind. “She’s going to need some time to recover. Don’t go too hard on her.”

“No harder than you, my brother.” Ash moved toward the door of The Cave.

“What are you doing?”

“Just checking on our little thief before she robs us blind.” He paused and studied Stone for a moment. “Why? Problem? I assumed you were done.”

He should be. He walked out on her for a reason. He didn’t play with brats and he could always tell when women were entering into a bratty stage. But he knew better than to abandon a sub after rough play.

Stone rubbed the back of his neck as Ash waited. “Nah. You go. You’re better at the aftercare anyway. I have shit to do.”

He closed his hand over the knob.

“But Ash…”

“Yeah?”

“Give her time to…recover. I was tough on her.”

“You got it.”