Page 10 of Treasured by Them (Rose and Dagger #3)

Troy

I finish my reps and set down the bar. Sweat drips from my brow. Edmund runs on the treadmill, and I’ll spot him when he’s done.

The home gym is the smallest room of the penthouse, but it gets a lot of use. I like being able to see across the city while I lift. It makes me feel like I’m on top of the world, while humbling me at the same time.

My phone buzzes rhythmically on the floor next to the bench. The name on the screen is Caleb Morraine .

I swipe to answer the call. “Hey.”

“Hey. We need to talk about Danica.”

“Yeah, why?” My lungs go cold. I know Dani’s safe because she’s down the hall in her room. But Morraine’s tone is unhappy. If someone’s threatening her…I put the phone on speaker and set it on the bench next to me. “Edmund’s here. Who do we have to fuck up?”

“Shit, it’s not like that.” His voice echoes in our workout room. “She’s safe, nobody’s been following her.”

Edmund frowns at the phone. “Then what the fuck is the problem, Morraine?”

“She’s making it hard to work with her. She’s rude. Slams the door behind her before I can get through, that sort of thing.”

What a fucking wimp. I bite back a sigh. “That all?”

“Hey, it’s a big deal when I’m trying to do my job.” His voice rises. “I tried talking to her about it, but she said I should talk to the quote-unquote asshole dommy douchebags she lives with.”

“She said what ?” Edmund lowers his voice.

“We’ll talk to her.” I end the call before Morraine can repeat the insult. Then I face Edmund. “So, she’s fighting her personal security. That’s not going to work.”

“If she won’t agree to a bodyguard, she should quit her job.”

I pocket my phone and wipe down the bench. “Not a bad idea, if we can convince her to do it.”

“Fuck that.” He shakes his head. “We’ll tell her to do it.”

A shadow moves in the doorway.

Shit. Dani’s listening. I make a cutting motion with my hand, but Edmund isn’t paying attention.

Edmund grabs another towel and rubs the sweat from his face. “She’ll hate it, but that’s why we’re in charge?—”

“Edmund.” I put enough urgency in my voice to make him stop.

“What?”

Dani strides into the room, her cheeks pink with anger. “I can’t believe the two of you. Scheming to have me quit? What’s next? I’m barefoot and pregnant, packing brown-bag lunches for you to take on your gangster hang-outs?”

Edmund bursts out laughing. “Gangster hang-outs?”

“Whatever the fuck you do.” She crosses her arms, visibly seething. “Either way, I’m not quitting my job. Fuck you both, you are asshole dommy douchebags.”

Before Edmund or I can say anything, she whirls around and stomps down the hallway, slamming her bedroom door.

I exchange a look with Edmund. She won’t get away with talking to us like that.

* * *

Danica

I throw myself on my bed. Fury pulses behind my eyes. The nerve of those assholes. Bad enough I’m in this arrangement to begin with, but on top of that, they want to control whether or not I go to work?

Fuck that, and fuck them.

Yes, it’s true I haven’t been making Caleb’s job easy.

That’s on me. I don’t think his presence is necessary, and it’s weird feeling like someone’s always there.

When I go to the bathroom, he’s standing around, waiting for me to come out.

Every joke I laugh about with Isabelle, Caleb is there to hear it, too.

Every tiny spoonful of ice cream I “taste test for quality control”—Caleb notices that, too.

I wouldn’t usually consider myself a self-conscious person...until I feel like every move is being scrutinized.

“Danica.” Edmund knocks on my door. “We need to talk.”

“No.” I sound like a sulky child, but I don’t care.

“Danica. If you don’t open the door, I’ll break it down.”

“You sound like such a daddy.” I stick my tongue out at the closed door. What is wrong with me? Of course they’re treating me like I can’t make my own decisions—I’m acting like an unreasonable toddler.

Also, a secret part of me would love for Edmund and Troy to break down my door. I want to see them standing fierce and furious on the other side, with splintered planks littering the floor at their feet.

But I probably shouldn’t push my luck. I stride over to the door and yank it open. Both Edmund and Troy stand in the hall in front of me, flat expressions on their faces.

“Thank you for opening the door.” Edmund’s voice is tight.

“Yes, well.” I clear my throat and square my shoulders, even though these two men standing tall and stern like that is making me quake with the need to beg forgiveness. “We should talk, you were right about that.”

“We should talk even though every part of me wants to lay you across my lap and spank you silly.” Edmund’s green eyes don’t leave mine.

“When he’s done, it’ll be my turn.” Troy’s deep, dominant voice goes straight to my pussy.

“I don’t—I mean—I thought you wanted to talk?”

“Actions speak louder than words, little girl.” Troy steps forward.

I know that if I move aside and let Troy and Edmund into my room, my ass will be spanked.

I know that it will probably hurt.

I know that they’re controlling, sadistic motherfuckers.

Easy decision. I move aside. “Well, get on with it, then.”

The room tilts sideways, then upside down as Troy hauls me over his shoulder. His palm cracks down hard on my ass, blazing hot through my jean shorts.

“We will tell you when and how you’ll be punished for your disobedience.” Edmund’s voice is quiet, but it echoes in my skull. “That’s not up to you, princess. That’s up to your daddies.”

I shriek. “Put me down!”

“Again, that’s up to us.” Troy spanks me again.

The world tilts around once more and their rough arms maneuver my body.

I’m facing the floor, Troy’s thighs beneath me, my legs and head dangling down.

Blood rushes to my face. Partly because of the position, but mostly from embarrassment.

I thought I wanted to be spanked, but the reality is far different from the fantasy.

“Maybe we should talk instead?” I suggest.

Edmund’s laughter is sinister. “Oh, now she wants to talk.”

“Yes,” I say in my sweetest voice. “Now I want to talk.”

“Talk to me about your safeword, then.” Troy sounds amused.

They’re the biggest jerks in the whole world. “My safe word is red.”

“Good to know.” Troy—or maybe it’s Edmund—yanks down my shorts and panties.

I barely have a chance to register cool air hitting my ass before Troy spanks me. I yelp in surprise. It didn’t hurt much, but there’s more heat to it than there was last time he spanked me.

I wasn’t being punished then, though, not really.

This feels like a punishment. Especially when he does it again, just as hard. I don’t like this.

But I know I need it.

Still, I kick my legs up, trying to dislodge myself from his lap.

“I don’t think so, princess.” Edmund grabs my ankles and pins them in his hand, anchoring me in place.

Fuck this. I wiggle my hips instead.

Troy tightens his hold on my upper body and spanks me harder. “Are you sure you want to squirm, little girl? It would be a shame if I missed and accidentally spanked your pussy instead.”

“My—you wouldn’t?—”

“You might like it.” Edmund leans over and bites my calf.

Oh, fuck. It all hurts but it all feels good at the same time. Tingling heat spreads into a fire over my skin as Troy continues to spank me. I think Edmund alternates with him. I don’t wiggle anymore, I don’t try to get away. I want it, I crave it. Every rhythmic smack takes me higher.

Finally, the spankings stop. I’m breathing hard, and so are they.

“Checking in, angel.” Edmund’s voice is soft. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. I’m good, Daddy.” Good and aroused, anyway. I press my thighs together, squeezing for friction.

Troy strokes my burning backside. “Are you turned on?”

I press my lips together and nod.

“I couldn’t hear you.” Troy squeezes my ass cheek.

I whimper. “Yes, Daddy, I’m turned on.”

“Let me touch you, princess, and see just how aroused you are.” Edmund lets go of my ankles from where he’d been restraining me.

He trails one hand up the inside of my leg, his warm fingers firm as they stroke over my skin.

When he reaches my pussy, he hums in satisfaction.

“Nice and wet. Practically dripping over my fingers, you dirty little angel. Who knew you’d like your punishment so much? ”

Me. I knew.

“Well, nothing to do except fuck her, I suppose.” Edmund sounds dismissive, almost as if he thinks they’ll be doing me a favor.

I guess he isn’t wrong. It would be a great favor. “Yes...fuck me.”

“She’ll have to ask really, really sweetly if she wants to get fucked.” Troy sounds like he’s smiling.

“Please,” I whisper. “Please. I’ll be good, I promise.”

“Oh, that’s music to your daddies’ ears.” Edmund plunges his fingers into me, fucking me with them.

The moan that leaves my throat is entirely involuntary and they both chuckle. I’d be embarrassed if I weren’t so turned on. I can’t help myself, though—I rock my hips back as much as I can, trying to meet the thrusts of Edmund’s sinful fingers.

“Before the fucking, though, we should talk.” Edmund withdraws his hand from my pussy.

“Noooo.” I try to reach back for him, but his hand is gone. I lift up to look over my shoulder and see his fingers in his mouth.

He winks. “Yum. Now, about that conversation.”

I struggle in Troy’s lap until he lets me up. Once I’m sitting next to him, I kick off my shorts and panties—my ass hurts too much to put them on. Even the soft duvet hurts. “I won’t quit my job. There is no immediate threat to me.”

“Fine.” Troy grabs my chin and turns my head so I’m looking at him. “But you’ll allow Caleb to guard you. No more trying to ditch him or close doors in his face.”

“I just don’t see why?—”

“Trust us.” Edmund’s green eyes stare into mine. “That last body left by the serial killer? That was right outside Fox and Finch. One of my family’s restaurants.”

Of course I’ve heard of the recent murder. I can’t be friends with Elias and not know about every murder that occurs within a six-hundred-mile radius.

“It sounds like you need a bodyguard.” I pout.

“I have one,” Edmund says sharply.

When I look at them in question, Troy adds, “Me.”

Oh, right. I nod at Troy. “Then who’s your bodyguard?”

He shakes his head. “Don’t sass us, little girl. If you want to keep your job, you’ll let Caleb do his.”

“Fine.” My ass stings. I don’t want to antagonize them anymore. I just want to get fucked, and it’s true that the recent murders have me uneasy. What if it is the same person who killed Britney Gardner? What if they realize I’m a potential witness? “I’ll let Caleb do his job, I promise.”

“Good, because your bachelorette is this Saturday, isn’t it?” Edmund asks. “Are you going to behave or do we have to close down the club so it’s just you and your friends in there?”

I’ve been looking forward to the party since Leah planted the idea in my head two days ago. I love that Edmund isn’t threatening to cancel the whole thing, but imagine how weird it would be to spend time at Vice if it’s just me, four friends, and a DJ. “I’ll behave, I promise.”

“Now, about that fucking.” Edmund cocks his head at Troy. “I think after all this talking, our princess deserves something extra special.”

“If you mean ass-fucking,” I say, “the answer is nope.”

He laughs. “Like something as simple as nope will stop us. You’d need a safe word for that. But don’t worry, I have something else in mind.”

I eye him curiously. I can’t tell if he’s being mean with the “something special,” or nice. I think he likes my uncertainty—I think it turns him on.

He kneels in front of me and inhales. “Fuck, you smell so fucking sweet.”

Troy shoves his exercise shorts down enough to free his cock. I watch, enraptured, while he strokes the rigid length.

He reaches past me to the nightstand and grabs a condom. Gesturing to Edmund, he says, “How about you lick her cunt while I fill her with my come?”