Fuck me. The things me and my brother could do with that...
My eyes dart to her hand on the handle behind her, but then she leans forwards, and I go still. She’s on her tiptoes, in platform heels, and still barely reaches my chin, so I lower my face until our eyes are level.
Her gaze drops to my mouth, then slowly sweeps back up to my eyes.
“Goodnight, my lord,” she whispers.
I don’t get to respond. She’s already turning the handle, stepping backwards over the threshold, her dangerous little smirk never leaving my gaze.
Then she shuts the door.
I stand there, staring into that piece of wood. A flimsy barricade, separating me from her. My fists slide over it as I linger there, contemplating my options.
Ripping the door from its hinges, flinging her over my shoulder, dragging her into the penthouse next door—no.
No. That isn’t happening.
I wouldn’t—can’t—because I have to play the game.
Her rules. Her choice.
Even though I’m flooded with sour frustration, pent up angst, and I’m so hard that moving is going to be difficult, I’m grinning. I can’t ignore the pleasure rushing through me.
And the way she behaved for me.
She’s given me a taste of what she’d be like with me. With us. If we earned it—if we were worthy enough for her torelinquish control, to trust us, to submit. Even if it was only for a moment… or several hours… maybe a full day.
I softly tap my fists against the door once, then drag myself away.
Maybe I’m not the best choice to stay tonight. Maybe this is a terrible idea. Because a wall, a door, that isn’t going to stop me from taking what I want. Not when she’s right there.
I force myself to keep walking, grabbing my phone from my pocket and seeing messages already there. A range of colourful insults from Sai, but I skim past them, tapping Kane’s name as I enter the adjoining penthouse—just a few steps from hers.
I’m not risking speaking through our minds at this distance. I couldn’t live with Sai mocking me over this for the next decade.
It rings once.
“You need to come,” is all I say as I pace down the penthouse hallway, unloosening the tie that has become a noose.
“What’s wrong?” His voice is clipped, terse.
“I’m not the right choice, Kane. I had to drag myself away from her door before I… just come and switch with me.”
“Ezekial.” His voice reeks of disapproval. “She would feel me, and we cannot give her another reason not to trust us. Tell me what happened.”
“What happened is that she put on another performance, but this one was just for me and... fucking hell—” I drop onto the sofa, fling my glasses onto the table and scrub a hand over my face, trying to force the memory of her from my mind... when all I want to do is relive it.
“You’re the most grounded of us all,” he says calmly, and I know he’s trying to reassure me but, if anything, it makes my lack of control feel even worse. “Imagine if it was Sai in your position.”
“That’s why I’m not asking for that crazy fuck, I’m asking for you,” I grit out, growing annoyed at my brother. Did he not think I’d already consider all the options? He’s the most viable one.
“I’m certain you’ve dealt with more... trying things than this.”
I huff. “Brother, please remind me, when have I ever had to deal with my bond doing this—”
I send the memory, the full thing. From the moment I called her ‘intoxicating’, up until she closed the door in my face. And then, because I’m definitely catching some type of sickness from Sai, I replay the final moments. Her sweet expressions, the façade of innocence and nativity, how she addresses me as ‘my lord’…
Groaning, I lean back and stare up at the pitch-black ceiling, waiting for my brother’s response. All I hear is his breathing, but the slight change in volume is enough to tell me he’s affected.
