Page 38

damian

I snuck another glance at Talie, my frown deepening.

We were at dinner, and she’d been picking at her pasta for the last twenty minutes, not taking a single bite.

She also hadn’t so much as looked at me since we’d sat down.

I’d been expecting her to gloat over the torture contraption she trapped my dick in.

But no, whatever her father spoke to her about earlier must not have been good.

I shifted in my seat, gritting my teeth at the weight of the cage.

Luckily, it was barely noticeable under my slacks, but there was no way I’d be able to get it off until I got the damn key.

I stayed in the shower for a half an hour, attempting to slip it off with soap.

While inspecting the cage, I’d seen a hole at the end where the tip of my cock was, proving to me that this chastity was built to be used long-term because it didn’t ever have to come off even to use the bathroom.

“Do you two have any travel plans for the rest of the year?” my mother asked, her question directed at me and Talie. “You’ve already been to some amazing places on those vacations while Natalia was away at school.”

My pleasant mask stayed in place as I chuckled. All those vacations I took by myself. Another cover to show our families we’d been happily married. I couldn’t help but be curious about the places she really visited while she was gone.

Talie smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Ask my husband. He’s in charge of our travel plans.”

I didn’t miss the bitter edge of her voice, and from the sharp look her father gave her, he didn’t either. I glared at him, wondering what the hell he spoke about to my wife.

It was only us, Charlotte, and our parents at this table, but the rest of the tables in the dining hall were full of everyone else.

Rhyett met my eye from a couple of tables away, shooting me a lopsided grin.

He planned another night of drinking and dancing, but I had a feeling Talie wasn’t going to be up for it tonight.

“Excuse me,” Talie said, getting to her feet. “I’m not feeling well. I’m turning in for the evening.”

Charlotte watched her sister walk away, concern etched on her face. Jude was staring at his daughter as she exited the dining area, the smug smile on his lips shooting a raging fire through me. I threw my cloth napkin over my half-eaten plate before standing up.

“Where are you going?” my father asked. “We’re still going to have cigars with our associates.”

“I’m going to check on my wife.”

Christian began arguing, but I tuned him out as I strode away, wanting to catch Talie before she disappeared. I cursed under my breath, each step reminding me about the metal suffocating my cock.

I left the dining area, scanning the hall.

She was in a mood, and whenever that happened, she went somewhere she could be alone.

Which meant she wouldn’t go back to our stateroom, and I didn’t want to search the entire yacht for her.

I caught sight of a door closing down the hall, and rushed toward it, only to hesitate for a second when I realized it was the ladies’ restroom.

With a sigh, I quietly cracked open the door, poking my head in.

I was met with a small sitting room with a counter that ran along the side wall with a mirror behind it.

The back of the room opened up to where I was guessing the stalls and sinks were.

My gaze cut to the side where Talie was sitting on a narrow sofa.

She was already staring at me with an eyebrow raised. “You realize this is the women’s bathroom?”

I ignored her question, asking my own. “What’s wrong?”

She rolled her eyes, slumping against the cushion. “Go away, Damian. I came in here to be alone.”

I stepped inside, letting the door close behind me. “What did your father want?”

She scowled, remaining silent as she jumped to her feet. Her flip-flops slapped against the tile as she stormed closer, clearly with the intention of leaving. I planted my feet, staying in front of her way out.

“Move,” she demanded.

“Not until you tell me what happened.”

Her eyes flashed with annoyance before her frown morphed into a dirty smirk. I went rigid when she ran her fingers down my chest. When her hand reached my slacks, I swallowed a groan, her palm rubbing against the cage. My dick stirred, and I clenched my teeth, willing myself not to get hard.

“Get out of my way,” she threatened in a sinful voice. “Or I’ll tease you until you’re begging me to stop.”

I snatched her wrist, backing her up until her spine hit the counter, her struggles doing nothing. “Don’t make threats unless you can back them up, Natalia. I could hold you here all night. Now, tell me what happened.”

She tilted her face up, fury gleaming in her eyes. “Nothing. Just my father reminding me that I won’t be leaving this life.”

“Leaving?” I repeated, intent on distracting her from what was bothering her. “You think I’d let you go anywhere when you shackled my dick? You’re stuck with me at least until you give me the damn key.”

A small giggle escaped her, but it wasn’t enough. The sadness in her eyes was still heavy, making my chest tighten.

“What else did he say?” I questioned in a low voice.

She twisted her wrist, and I let her go, taking a step back as she crossed her arms. Silence fell over the room as I waited impatiently for her to answer. She bit her lips, nerves crossing her features.

“Did you read our marriage contracts?”

Her question surprised me. “Yes,” I answered slowly, unsure of where she was going with this.

“Before we got married?”

“I read through them before and after,” I informed her. “Why?”

“So you’re aware that you owning Club Facade could cause issues if our parents found out?”

My heart flipped. “Why are you asking?”

Her eyes stayed locked on mine. “If my father finds out about your business, then it voids their work partnership. Gives my family the majority of the shares. Grants me a divorce. Now I understand why you’re so secretive about it.”

“Talie,” I ground out, ice chilling my veins. “Did you tell Jude about my club?”

She stayed quiet, as if wanting to torture me more, before finally saying, “No, I didn’t tell him.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face, my heart thudding with relief. “He talked to you about business?”

Her laugh was bitter. “Only because it could benefit him. I don’t think our fathers are getting along right now.”

That was news to me. My dad hadn’t said a word about anything. Talie stared at me for a moment longer before trying to dart around me. I shot my arm out, making sure she stayed put.

“I told you what happened,” she snapped. “Let me leave.”

“Not yet.”

She gave me a scathing glare as she hopped onto the counter, leaning back on her palms. “Is there something else you need to talk about, husband? Or do you enjoy being in agony?”

Before I could ask what she meant, she spread her legs, tugging up her sundress until I got a peek of that sexy-as-fuck lingerie thong. My jaw ticked as I forced my eyes back to her face. I grabbed her thighs, forcing her legs wider apart.

“Agony?” I leaned closer. “Believe me, Talie. Anytime you offer me my favorite meal, I’m in fucking heaven. I don’t give a shit if I can’t get an erection. Tasting you? That surpasses anything else.”

Her eyes widened slightly when I trailed my hands higher until they disappeared under her dress. My fingers brushed her pussy, and she sucked in a breath, arching her back.

“Why didn’t you tell him?” I asked. “About Club Facade? You could have gotten the divorce you’ve been threatening me with.”

Her words were lost when I pushed her thong to the side, slipping a finger inside her. I grinned when her eyelids fluttered, loving how easily she fell apart at my touch. My cock swelled painfully against the fucking cage, but I kept my focus solely on her pleasure.

“Why?” I pressed, rubbing my thumb over her clit.

“Because,” she breathed out, “being married to you isn’t the worst thing in this world, Damian.”

I chuckled even when my gut churned. We were both aware her father would want her to remarry a man of his choosing if she ever divorced me. Leaving me with the plaguing question of whether she kept my secret only because of that or if she was possibly warming up to me.

“Even with you torturing me with this cage, I still think you deserve an orgasm,” I murmured, continuing my slow strokes with my thumb. “For keeping your husband’s dirty secret.”

“This changes nothing,” she forced out. “Our marriage?—”

“Stop,” I growled. “Don’t say anything you’re going to regret, or I’ll tease this out.”

Defiance lit up her eyes, but she kept her lips pressed together as I plunged my finger back into her.

“What are you doing?”

The stunned voice came from behind me, and Talie quickly pushed my hand away from her before sliding off the counter, making sure her dress was covering everything.

I clenched my teeth, spinning around to see a lady with her hand covering her mouth.

Well, shit . I recognized her as one of our associate’s wives.

“This is a public restroom,” she sputtered out, her eyes landing on me. “For women.”

Knowing my father was going to hear about this either way, I didn’t utter an apology. “I needed a moment with my wife. We’ll get out of your way.”

She frowned. “Your generation has no respect. This is unacceptable.”

“It won’t happen again,” Talie promised. “I’m sorry?—”

“We have a lovely church group I think you need to attend,” she interrupted, her gaze going back to Talie. “All of us wives go every Monday night. I’ll give your father the information.”

“No, thank you,” Talie replied tightly. “My Mondays are already booked.”

She eyed us both with disapproval before spinning around to storm out of the restroom. Talie let out a groan, sulking past me as she moved toward the door.

“Great,” she grumbled. “You know she’s going to tell her husband, who is going to be more than happy to inform my dad.”

I chased after her, letting out a spew of curses when the movements reminded me of the cage locked on my cock. My palm hit the door right when she opened it, and I slammed it shut again.

“What are you doing?” she snapped, whirling around to face me. “I don’t need anyone else walking in on us.”

Keeping my hand on the smooth wood, I dropped my head, kissing her throat as I kept her pressed against the door.

“No one can get in if I keep you right here.” I nipped at her ear. “Her question made me realize something.”

“And what’s that?”

“It’s clear we both plan on staying in this marriage.” My words had her hand landing on my chest as she pushed me away enough to meet my eyes. “I need to learn everything about you.”

She scoffed. “We grew up together. You already know I don’t go to church. I never did.”

“I want to know it all ,” I tossed back. “That could have changed in five years. For all I know, you were away at a convent.”

A laugh escaped her. “Convent? No. I have enough men trying to tell me what to do in my life. Every church I’ve been to dictates that a man is in charge. Head of their family. What religion do you know where a woman is at least equal? Where she has as much say as her man?”

With a wicked grin, I dropped to my knees before raising my eyes to meet her surprised ones. “Mine. Now, stay still while I worship my woman.”

She didn’t move a muscle as I slid her thong down her thighs. I helped lift her leg, tugging them off her, and then placed her leg over my shoulder before grabbing her hips to help keep her steady. I kissed the inside of her thigh as she tangled her fingers in my hair.

I inhaled a deep breath, her scent making me want to take her right here. Until my hardening cock called my attention back to the damn cage. But that torment was well worth tasting her again. I readjusted on my knees before sliding my tongue over her clit.

“You say you see me as an equal,” she panted heavily, “yet you still just gave me an order.”

“Because I know you like it. Want me to stop, Talie? Say the word.”

The only thing to leave her lips next was a moan as I buried my face between her legs, having no plan to come up for air until she couldn’t take the pleasure anymore.