Page 78 of Gilded Locks

“Get over yourself, Ash. We all agreed she was ours, split equally between the three of us. Hunter isn’t going to hurt her.”

“She doesn’t know that.”

“Well, she’ll learn. She set the terms as much as us.”

He looked back at the door, wondering if he should go back in and face the consequences. “Fuck.”

Stone cupped a hand to his shoulder. “She has a safe word, Ash. And she knows how to use it.”

Unless fear paralyzed her vocal cords. He dialed into the surveillance feed. “I hope your right.”

Chapter 15

Ya Ne Mogu Dyshat’ Bez Tebya

The door closed, and Marigold’s gaze shot to Hunter. Her heart pounded in her chest like a wild tribal drum. How could they have left her here—alone—with him.

A low, cold chuckle rumbled from his broad chest as he crossed his arms, only further accentuating how massive he truly was. “They think you’ve accepted your circumstances. They think they claimed you. But you still flinch when I walk in a room.”

Her pulse leapt when he pushed off the wall and sauntered closer to the bed. Bending at the waist, he made a show of sniffing her, scenting her like an animal. She could only imagine what she might smell like, freshly fucked, drenched in semen and sweat, tied and exposed, helpless against his inspection.

She closed her eyes as heat crested her cheeks and mortification burned through her.

“That fear?” He whispered, closer than he’d been a second ago. “It’s mine. And I’m not sharing it with anyone.”

Necessity forced her to open her eyes. She didn’t trust him, didn’t know what he intended to do to her. “I thought you weren’t interested.”

“I’m not.”

She hated that his rejection still stung. It didn’t matter how much she feared his touch, it bothered her that she couldn’t make him want her.

He loosened the rope and adjusted the pully so her legs lowered to the bed. “Stone thinks he owns your submission.” He unlatched the ankle cuffs. “Ash believes he has your passion.” Moving to the headboard, he loosened the binds at her wrist. “But I’ll have something they never will. Your choice. And I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to ask me. To beg me.”

Marigold sat up, but never took her eyes off him. He prowled around the room like a caged predator. Mapping every inch, commanding every corner. No matter what room Hunter entered, he owned it. Claimed it.

Scooting back toward the pillows, she shifted to her knees and drew her torn sweater dress together to hide her body. “I don’t beg.”

“We both know that’s a lie.” Noting her protective posture, he scoffed. “Relax. When I take you—if I take you—you won’t be exhausted from them.” He opened a drawer and removed a folded towel and a custom-wrapped bar of artisan soap, tossing both on the foot of the bed. “You’ll be fresh. Aware. Present for every second.” He paused to let that sink in, then said, “Clean yourself up. You reek of sex, and we have work to do.”

When he left the room, she sagged with relief, letting out a breath she’d been holding since he walked in. Lifting her sweater, she sniffed her skin and drew back. He was right. She reeked of sex.

Gathering the soap and towel, she slipped into the attached bathroom. It wasn’t as elegant as the one in her room, but it was still state-of-the-art and gorgeous. The second the water hit her breast she hissed. Her nipples were sore and swollen. She wondered how long they would stay hard from the clamps.

She showered quickly, but didn’t know what to do about clothes. When she exited the bathroom in a towel, Ash was waiting by the bed.

She stilled at the sight of him, relieved than furious. “You left me.”

“You okay?”

Crossing the room in fast strides, she ignored him. “Go away. You’re good at that.”

“Hey!” He caught her arm. “You know the rules.”

“This isn’t about rules. This is about you playing a joke and losing control. You think I can’t tell when you’re teasing me? You never meant for Hunter to get involved.”

“You’re right. But what was I supposed to do?”

“What is this power he has over you and Stone? Is he, like, you’re leader?”