Page 66 of Wanted

“I have to when it’s life or death. I need to know whether the dynamics have changed. A man in love will do things differently…”

“I’m not in love,” Fylox uttered. He put down his fork next to the plate that was squeaky clean, not a single crumb dirtying it.

“Okay, buddy,” Jordan responded, not entirely sold on Fylox’s statement.

I let out a harsh breath. “In a perfect world, we’d fuck all day long in all sorts of variations because I’m a filthy whore who will let anyone do just about anything to her. Is that what you want to hear?”

Fylox flinched. I’d pay for my curse words later. I couldn’t wait.

Jordan shook his head. “Stop being so defensive. I’m not judging you. I’m just asking. I’d appreciate it if you watched your tone.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Sit across my lap,” Fylox ordered, and goosebumps erupted all over me.

“What? No. Not in front of Jordan…” I mumbled, secretly considering it. I was already squeezing my thighs together in anticipation.

“Sit across my lap. I won’t ask you again.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll have Jordan present for your punishment, and I know how much you hate being publicly humiliated,” Fylox warned me. I swallowed.

“You don’t have to do that. I would never… That’s kind of disgusting,” Jordan commented, defensibly lifting his hands in innocence. “Son, you… You watch them?”

I took a deep breath, and then I pushed back my chair. On my way to the other end of the table, I felt their eyes on me, and it made me more nervous than I had ever been. Doing this in front of other people reminded me of Aram, and me thinking of Aram while upset didn’t do me any good. I hoped that Fylox hid his medicines tonight because I was in a horrible mood. My itchy fingers wouldn’t say no to a taste of the forbidden.

I took a seat across Fylox’s lap. My legs touched Alex’s thighs. He made a move to caress me, but Fylox stopped him. Fylox’s hand supported my lower back above my shirt. He didn’t want to get too raunchy in front of his boss.

My mind went to places. I wanted to throw up, but I had barely eaten anything today. Fylox and I had skipped breakfast to swim in Alex’s massive indoor pool, another luxury that I knew little about. We didn’t believe in pools in Katantia. We had the ocean. Pools wasted water, and we couldn’t have that.

I closed my eyes and thought of better days, back when mom taught me how to swim.

Just breathe, sweetie. I’m so proud of you.

A knot formed in my stomach. She wouldn’t be too proud nowadays.

“Open your eyes, Kamila. That’s not how we play. You’re present when we do this,” Fylox demanded fiercely. “Have I given you any reason not to trust me? Do you think I’ll touch you inappropriately in front of Jordan? Have I given you the right to think that low of me?”

I obeyed his command, but I rolled my eyes.

“And you need to stop rolling your eyes. That’s disrespectful.”

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, feeling a hundred pounds of sadness weigh me down. If I opened my mouth, I’d start crying. I needed a smoke. I needed something.

“You remember when I told you that the men… and women who bought me had peculiar tastes,” Fylox began, addressing Jordan. His fingers draped around my knees, massaging them softly. “I can’t quite get rid of them. I don’t like playing the subservient role. If your son knows where I go when I’m alone, you probably know, too. I don’t have sex with these girls. I barely do these days, but that’s beside the point. This power play relaxes me, and apparently, it does the same for Kamila.”

“She doesn’t seem relaxed,” Jordan observed.

I scoffed.

“Kamila,” Fylox lectured me.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t really be the happy go lucky type of bitch that all of you seem to think I am right now.” I stood up from Fylox’s lap, shoving aside his hands. Alex got up as well, alerted by my outburst. “I’m not happy. I’m depressed. My friend is gone. You… I don’t fucking know, okay? You could’ve told me that you knew about Felicita and Aram. And you didn’t have to be so cross about me being… You could’ve told me what you were planning with Mandy. She’s my family. I’m sorry, but I can’t play right now. I don’t want to play in front of Jordan. That’s not me.”

Acting is a fundamental part of life, sweetie. The faster you learn that the better equipped you’ll be.

Fylox wanted to say something, but Alex didn’t let him. “You’ve done enough.”