“You don't know how much. I was an idiot to let you go. Do you know what my asshole brothers wanted? They wanted us to share a woman! I went along with it because I didnt want to cause any problems, but why the fuck would I want to share a woman when I could have you all to myself? I was going to break it off with Harlow on the cruise, then come find you when we returned,” he tells her. Her eyes slide to me, a triumphant smile on her face.
I know he said not to believe what he said, but unfortunately, he hit the hot button that has been my biggest worry the whole time, so the hurt on my face is real. Raquel looks thrilled to see it there.
“What the fuck? Are you kidding me?” Jacinta yells at him, not having heard what he whispered to me. On the downside, my eardrums might be permanently damaged, but on the bright side, it will help sell the whole charade.
“Let me out of here, so we can be together,” he encourages her, and she spins around, holding out her hand to her sister.
“Give me the keys. I’ll make him take me away, and you’ll still have one of the twins for the blood you need.”
Of course, they need the twins’ blood for the vault. But the drugs and guns are gone. What else could they want?
Cecelia snorts and rolls her eyes. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen, you stupid bitch. He’s playing you.”
Raquel snarls, and her fists clench tightly as she takes a step toward her sister, I cross my fingers that she will attack Cecelia.
“What is your fucking problem? Why should you be the one in charge? You fucked up as much as I did! You couldn't let go of your resentment for Harlow and screwed it all up. If you had played nicely, you would still be firmly established in Neighpalm Industries. Instead, we had to resort to kidnapping.”
Why would Cecelia resent me?
Cecelia grunts with annoyance. “Like you can fucking talk. If you hadn’t fucked up with Jaxon, we’d be even closer to getting what we want. You’d have full access to that house and could find what we need.”
“Youbothfucked up. You’re lucky you’re not dead like Luke is,” a harsh voice says from the stairway, and the girls exchange a panicked look. We hadn't noticed anyone on the stairs because we were too engrossed with their argument, but their heavy footsteps have Cecelia and Raquel practically ready to run. The visitor is inspiring a completely different reaction in me. Who is he?
There’s something about that voice that’s hitting me as familiar, but I can’t figure out why. Squinting through the dark, I try to make out who it is; with the distance, no features are distinguishable yet. “And if you don't shut up, I have two bullets with your names on them. I can easily put them between your eyes,” he threatens as he steps off the stairs and into the dull light. My stomach rolls when I recognize the man. How could this be happening? I don't understand how I could be such a bad judge of character.
An evil grin gives his face a sinister twist as he turns to look at me. “Hello, Harlow, it's been a while.”
ChapterSix
Holden
I’m a dusty mess once lunchtime swings around. We ended up deciding to start in the safe room, removing all the clothing and linens and everything from there. Turns out the mattress on the huge bed was separate pieces, so it was quite easy for me and Oli to grab them one at a time and bring them up the spiral staircase. Thank goodness it was wide, or navigating those curves would have been a problem. Not that we didn’t come across some surprises anyway. Oli’s scream when a baby mouse ran across his arm was hysterical, and it took me a couple of minutes to stop laughing while he pouted the whole time.
The bed frame itself is in perfect condition, but it could probably do with a sanding and a new stain to keep it that way. It will have to be a job for one of us because we don't want to let any workmen up into this room. Kai likes to do things with his hands, so he’s probably the best option.
It took us numerous trips up the stairs with all the clothes and shoes the count had in his wardrobe. He had some jewelry and watches, but we left them for Jaxon to have a look at. They were classic pieces, and it might be nice for him to have something from his grandfather despite how depraved he may have been. All that’s left in there now are empty hangers and the contents of the safe that we left intact.
“I think that’s it for down here,” Oli says after looking around the room. “Shall we head upstairs and start dealing with the sex stuff?” He waggles his eyebrows at me, and my dick pulses in my shorts. Both of us were too tired last night once the gala was over, so we just collapsed into bed and snuggled. But he’s been parading around in his tight boxers, as well as stripping off his shirt when he started to itch from the dust, and my self-control only goes so far. At this stage, I don't care that the equipment is used. I’m sure twenty-five years of non-use has made them practically sterile again.
He must see the lust in my eyes because a wicked little grin appears on his face before he turns and sprints up the stairs. I follow quickly after him. As fun as it has been being submissive to Harlow, it’s been a while since I let my dominant side out, and there are so many lovely things to play with that I’m going to take full advantage of them.
When we took a quick break earlier, I had a closer look at all the equipment in the room. There are a couple of paddling benches, stocks, a padded wall with restraints, two chairs for strapping people down, and a St. Andrew’s Cross, but the one thing that really caught my eye looks like a cross between one of Oli’s tattoo tables and a doctor’s exam chair. It’s a waist-high horse with arm, leg, and head rests that have built-in restraints. The headrest is one of those ones that you can put your face into and see out the other side like a massage table. I found a bottle of disinfectant under the sink in the bathroom and gave it a good spray and wipe while Oli was exploring the rest of the room.
Oli is hiding behind one of the crosses when I get to the top of the stairs, and I snort. “Babe, that’s never going to hide you.”
He peeks out from behind it and winks. “I guess you need to punish me for my bad hide-and-seek skills.”
My dick throbs again, and a grin curls my lips. “Oh, babe, that’sexactlywhat I have planned.”
I stride toward him, and he doesn't bother to run. Pulling him to me, he leans in for a kiss, but I spin him so the arm I had a hold of is now behind him while his back presses to my front. I lean in and bite his neck, savoring the groan he gives me in response. “Kissing is for pets that deserve a reward, and you haven’t been a good boy yet.” I run my tongue over the shell of his ear as I whisper those words, smiling when goosebumps rise all over his flesh. Oli has always been deliciously responsive.
With his arm behind his back, I march him over to the piece of furniture that I’m most interested in. He balks slightly, but I nip at his ear to deliver a little sting. “I wiped over everything.”
His head turns to look at me, his pretty brown eyes widening in surprise. “When did you get time to do that?” he asks. I push in the center of his back, and he immediately obeys, leaning onto the apparatus.
“When you were downstairs and more interested in the count’s shoes than anything else. You got distracted for about ten minutes, and I made use of the time wisely,” I reassure him as I strap his arms into the arm rests, followed by his head. I slide his boxer briefs over his perky ass cheeks and down his legs before he steps out of them. Throwing them to the side, I help him put his legs on the leg rests before I strap those in too. Then I step back and admire how my boyfriend looks, all bound and tied for me. I run my hand over his ass cheeks, which are so nicely displayed and parted from how he’s strapped in. “Oh, babe, if only Harlow could see you now.” I lean in to run my tongue over his puckered ass hole, and he squirms. He tastes salty and musky, and I hold my dick through my clothes as I feel pre-cum soak my underwear.
His breathing is already becoming heavy, and when I reach underneath his body, his cock is hard and pulsing. I step back and strip off my clothes and toss them to the side. Palming my dick once more, my hand lazily slides up and down as I take in his sexy form laid out for my enjoyment.
