“Are you lovers?”
His question knocked me back a step. Where had…what did…the anger in his eyes was real enough, so I answered. “No. We slept together one time, probably a decade ago. It was a mistake neither of us wanted to repeat.”
Not that is fucking mattered, I wanted to add. But when begging for someone’s life, it was probably best not to antagonize.
I stayed quiet and waited, looking for his face in case he gave me any clues. It didn’t, of course.
After a few agonizing moments, he said, “and what will you pay for this? To keep your friend alive after he broke our original agreement?”
I looked away now, I didn’t want him to see how much Taylor meant to me. Shit, I doubted even Taylor knew how much I cared for him. It didn’t change my answer, regardless. “Anything. Name it.”
Taylor surged to his feet. “No, don’t do this. I’ll take the consequences myself. Don’t give another inch to this bastard.”
Neither Will nor I acknowledged he spoke. “Anything?” he asked.
I wasn’t going to repeat myself so I remained silent.
“Then you. I want you and everything you’ve been holding back from me. Every secret, every lie, every betrayal. And when we are done there, I want to inspect every scar, every birthmark, every freckle, before I lay my ownership in your skin.”
Taylor grabbed something behind me, but my world had narrowed to Will’s words and the off-key heartbeat pounding through every nerve.
I should say no. I should be afraid of him. I should run the first chance I got.
Instead, I nodded. Not even trusting my own voice to stay steady if I spoke my assent about loud.
Will gestured and a couple of hulks in suits took Taylor away. I couldn’t look, sure revulsion and shame would be aimed at me from his eyes.
I couldn’t believe I agreed to this. Now it was done, my brain scanned ways it could be undone, and came up empty, against the wall of desire I’d already built.
Damn Taylor for putting me in this position.
I cleared my throat and dashed toward my room. “I just need a minute,” I called back to no one in particular.
A voice inside screamed: run, take it back. But it was too late. I knew I didn’t really want to. I leaned against my closed bedroom door and considered the downsides. I’d already agreed to give him everything. We were just moving up the timeline apparently.
A knock made me dive away from the door. I cleared my dry throat as quietly as I could. “Yes. Come in.”
He entered in a few strides.
“Here to collect already? I didn’t realize you were so eager.” But the insult felt dead to my own ears.
He didn’t even blink. “No. I have some business to handle. I’ll see you at dinner tonight. We can discuss terms then.”
He walked out calmly without a backward glance. What had I done?
I sold my soul to the devilm and he would make me fucking pay.
Eight
Eddy
It took every ounce of willpower I possessed to walk out of her room. Not claim her as mine mine mine from the second she nodded yes.
The priest would be ashamed of me right now, my entire world careening, my body on fire and begging to be let loose.
I stripped out of my jacket and button down, leaving a trail of clothes to my bathroom. The cold tile met my feet as I kicked off my boxer briefs.
I took a long inhale and sat down. The chill jolted me for a second but soon passed. I let it seep into me, visualizing that biting cold merging into my skin, coating me inch by inch. It restored calm and control in its wake. When it reached the top of my head I opened my eyes, able to think around the growing hunger for her inside my gut.
