Indebted

by Piper Stone

  And he remained pissed.

  The conversation regarding my father as well as the bastard who’d framed me had been enlightening. Gabriel had shared no emotion while telling me that my father had used ruthless tactics, his theft not as much about money but corporate intelligence. My father had changed during the last year. I’d already known that. He’d become antsy and closed off, not the same gregarious man I’d known as a child.

  I’d been too busy at school to pay close enough attention, believing he was just going through some tough times. If I’d only pushed him harder to find out what was happening, maybe I could have stopped him from stepping over the line of justice.

  But what did that really mean? Why would my father ever think about turning against his own employer?

  What I had gathered was that Gabriel was waiting for a larger deal to be finalized. That was the extent of what he’d shared, and I doubted there would be anything else.

  I continued to try to process all I’d been through over the last few days, forced to realize that it was starting to feel like another woman had lived every glorious detail of my previous life. I’d been swept into Gabriel’s magnificent world of no return.

  Laughing, I stood back, pulling my hair into a ponytail. I’d been given many privileges over the last few days. Beautiful clothes. Makeup. Lingerie. Tons of books.

  But I was locked in the room every night, knowing there would be a visitor, the moments ever more glorious than those shared in the light.

  How strange.

  How amazing.

  How desperately sad.

  Today wasn’t the day to think about it. Gabriel had actually decided to take me out of the house. I was more than shocked. As I stood in front of the mirror, wearing the jeans and tee shirt that he’d provided, I took a deep breath. I had no idea what to expect.

  The man was maddening. Exhilarating. Breathtaking. When he swept me into his arms, I felt like a princess. When he glowered because of any interruption, I was tossed back into the land of realization that he was a man bordering on evil.

  Yet I wanted him. I craved his arms wrapped around me, his body covering mine. I longed to have his cock buried inside even as my mind still wanted to push him away.

  I ran my hands down the front of my jeans, giving a final nod before walking out of the bathroom, waiting like a good little girl for one of the guards to take me to him. It was always the same. In daylight, he’d send a guard to fetch me, leading me to whatever room in the house would include our first round of playtime. It was never about watching a movie or simply sharing a glass of wine. Gabriel was far too hungry to engage in such frivolous activities.

  The middle of the night was entirely different, a clandestine meeting of two bodies. He’d come to me, exploding with raw passion, a desperate need to touch me.

  Taste me.

  Fuck me.

  I hadn’t resisted, my own yearning impossible to suppress.

  I shuddered from the memory of the night before, the intensity of his savage fucking, the way he’d shoved his cock into my asshole. With every move, I was reminded not only of the brutal spanking, but also the anal plug required to remain buried deep inside. After several days, I no longer minded the obstruction.

  There was no knocking on the door, no sound of the lock being disengaged. It was at that moment I realized that I hadn’t been locked in a majority of the night. Another test.

  I’d passed.

  True to form, one of the hulking masses walked inside, his look of surprise creating a stingy little moment of joy in my system as his gaze filtered to the boots Gabriel had also provided. “Mr. Masters will see you now, Ms. Toro.”

  Ms. Toro. Neither one of the security guards had mentioned my first or last name until now. Perhaps I’d come up in the world.

  “I’m ready.” As I walked by the glass I’d used as a vase, I couldn’t help but take a minute to stop and breathe in the amazing scent of the rose. In my mind, the single flower was the most beautiful thing on the face of the planet. I’d been cooped up for far too long.

  I trailed him down the stairs, the eagerness continuing to grow. I was like a kid waiting for her birthday surprise. The office door was closed and as we neared, Kito purposely kept me from getting closer than six feet, his massive body dwarfing mine as he remained standing in front of me.

  When the door opened, he seemed to stand taller, shifting from foot to foot the moment voices could be heard.

  “You know I’ll do anything for you, buddy. All you have to do is ask. I don’t like hearing about the threats, and you should take them seriously.” Both men stepped out into the hall, the visitor’s voice not one I’d heard before. They turned their heads in our direction, the visitor grinning as he glanced up and down the length of me while Gabriel sighed, knowing I’d heard the exchange. “You know how to pick them, my friend. She’s beautiful.”

  “She is very much off limits. Just call me if you hear anything else,” Gabriel stated, giving me a heated look. I’d learned to read him pretty well in a short period of time. He was agitated.

  Threats. While Gabriel had insisted that he was the only man who could protect me, he’d never mentioned a single thing about being threatened.

  Maybe that’s why he’d kept me locked away.

  Bobby was still alive, no doubt furious I’d been released. Would he hunt me down, finish what he’d started? I shook my head as a single vision popped into my mind, a different one regarding the night at the club than I’d had before.

  There’d been so many people, all crowded around him as if he’d been a god. Sounds. I tried to pinpoint what my mind was hearing, but everything shifted into a giant blur all over again.

  I expected to see Gabriel in his usual suit, or at least the expensive trousers that were his classical mode of attire. The sight of him in faded blue jeans as well as a polo that had obviously seen better days took my breath away.

  In the few seconds that our gazes locked, I could read all the lurid and nasty thoughts about what he wanted to do to me.

  Lick every inch of your body.

  Fuck that tight ass of yours.

  “I will. We’ll have lunch in a couple days, and you’ll have to let me throw you that bachelor party prior to the wedding.” The visitor’s laugh was full of boyish charm, but he never took his eyes off me, both stunning in their blackness.

  Even his smile was off-putting, as if he’d enjoy a taste.

  “The party’s not going to happen so don’t even think about it, Aiden,” Gabriel shot back.

  “We’ll see.” Aiden winked before moving down the hallway. It was obvious they were friends. Another portion of information gleaned. I was beginning to piece together the true picture of the man, only the missing squares weren’t filling fast enough.

  He waited until Aiden was out of sight before turning toward me, the look on his face primal, desperate from hunger.

  “Do you need me to drive you somewhere, Mr. Masters?”

  “Thanks, Kito. I’ll handle it. The drive will be short.”

  Kito grinned, nodding. “Whatever you say.” He backed away, still on guard. Still watching.

  “Come with me, sweet Alessandra. I just need to get something from the kitchen first.” Gabriel didn’t take my hand, but he trailed behind me this time and I could feel the intensity of our connection even more than usual.

  The scent of him was spinetingling, so masculine and musky. I was almost drunk on his fragrance by the time we reached the kitchen, my mind still locked around the threats that had been mentioned. What kind of horrible game was being played?

  Everything was in its place as usual, not a single towel out of place or a spoon in the sink.

  The space unlived in.

  Unloved.

  No plants. No flowers.

  No cards.

  Yet there was a beautiful woven picnic basket in the middle of the counter, the handles closed by a sash. My mind went to all the beautiful places, a couple sharing in a r
omantic moment. I was thrown by the gesture, swallowing several times before I was able to speak.

  “What is that for?” I asked, always fearful of the answer.

  He moved around me, collecting the basket. “A picnic. What did you expect?”

  “I’m never certain with you.” When he pressed his hand against my back, his fingers digging in ever so possessively, I took another deep breath.

  Leaning over, he nipped my earlobe. “And you never will be. Come with me.”

  There was no choice or conversation. I would be required to follow him wherever he chose to take me.

  The car he selected out of his fleet was also unexpected, the older Mustang convertible gleaming in the sunlight; cherry red in color. He eased the basket onto the back seat before opening the passenger door. I could tell as he shielded his eyes from the sun that he was searching for any sign of intruders.

  He lived in a secure world with guards and guns but remained off kilter. How many times had I heard his phone ring and while he’d checked for the identity of the caller, he’d refused to answer? How many times had he wrapped his hand around the phone, prepared to crush it into a thousand pieces?

  I’d only asked once, the hard smack on my bottom a reminder that I wasn’t to ask questions. And I certainly hadn’t dared to ask him anything about his family.

  Or his scar.

  There was always a fine line of tension when he spent any time together other than embroiled in moments of raw animalistic cravings. Words left unsaid. Questions left unanswered. It was like living in a glass house, waiting for a single rock to shatter the glorious surroundings.

  He eased me into the seat, placing his hands on my shoulders. “I’m going to show you what I built.” I watched as he rounded the car, yanking the pair of sunglasses from his shirt. Everything about him seemed lighter, less stressful, but I knew better.

  It was as if there was a ticking bomb waiting to explode.

  Gabriel was reckless, including his driving, the rumble of the powerful engine only adding to the magnificence of the drive. I felt free, if only for a few precious moments. The wind through my hair, the sun on my face, and even the way he shifted gears with utter force added to the excitement of our adventure. A bad girl let out of her cage. What could be better than the open road?

  The estate was much larger than I’d assumed, the winding road moving through glorious forests and adjacent to beautiful streams. There were at least a dozen outbuildings and barns, the backdrop mountains and blue sky. We passed by several fenced fields and in the distance, I could just make out a few incredible horses. The dozens of acres were all well maintained yet remaining natural in appearance.

  As he shifted gears, moving onto an access road, he finally darted a glance in my direction.

  “Where are we going?” I asked again.

  “Good things come to little girls who wait patiently.” He brushed his fingers across my leg before wagging his finger back and forth. “But for those who aren’t, they will be stripped and left tied naked to a tree.”

  For the first time since arriving at his house I laughed, a moment of true joy sweeping through my system. If only every day could be like this. If only he was the kind of man who wanted to share a life with me. All of it was likely an act, a preparation for our upcoming wedding.

  I’d only been told a few details, although I was aware there were several prominent guests invited. What did it matter? I would be there in body only. I shifted in my seat, the jeans scratching against the latest spanking I’d received. Just another reminder that I was his possession.

  He studied my face, the slight smile fading as he noticed the change in my mood. Then he pressed on the accelerator, zooming around several corners far too sharply. He was angry with me, an impetuous child throwing a temper tantrum.

  Round and round he went, the vibrations of the engine roaring into every cell and muscle. I was breathless, clenching my eyes closed as the wind whipped through my hair, the adrenaline rush so damn powerful.

  I gripped the dashboard, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake. To kill us. To take us straight into hell. A laugh bubbled from my lips even as the sickening feeling became overwhelming. What was wrong with me? Did I really want to die? He veered to the right, the sound of the tires screeching yanking at my breath. When he slowed down, stopping with a jerk before parking under a large oak tree, I took a gasping breath.

  “Why? Why?” I demanded, stars still floating in my eyes.

  “Why?”

  “Why do you act that way, Gabriel? Or does it need to be sir? I have to remind myself that you’re not my boyfriend or my fiancé in any traditional sense. Sometimes I forget. There are times I can almost see us together. Isn’t that sick? Isn’t that crazy? But I remember why I’m here. To please you. To pay off my father’s debt. Now that I understand the truth, I realize I have no choice. But I won’t try and pretend this is anything other than what it is. Bullshit.”

  I jumped out of the car, immediately expecting him to chase me down. Then I couldn’t help but smile. Somehow, his childish antics hadn’t terrified the horses. All four stood grazing in the pasture, the sounds of their whinnying the most incredible thing I’d heard in weeks. I tentatively took a look back, prepared for a reprimand, but Gabriel remained in the car, one arm stretched over the back of the seat, the other on the steering wheel. This time, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, the sunglasses shielding eyes that could express every emotion with ease.

  I moved toward the fence, easing onto the first wooden slat and leaning over, the harrowing ride all but forgotten by the sight of the horses. “Hey, babies. Come here, pretty ones.” There was nothing that could have made me any happier than the fact all four came without hesitation, easing their massive heads over the fence, two nuzzling against me. As I rubbed their noses, I was suddenly far too emotional, tears slipping past my lashes.

  I’d fought so hard to remain strong, but it seemed everything about my little world from before had been stricken with lies. As I pressed my face against one of them, the quiet snorts and the sounds of their hoofs marking the turf became sweet music.

  I didn’t hear his approach but as always, I knew he was there. He remained quiet and when I finally looked over, one of the horses had moved in his direction. There was almost nothing gentle about Gabriel but seeing the way he interacted with the beautiful black stallion was incredible. He’d removed his sunglasses, allowing the horse to stare into his eyes. The connection was unbelievable, the horse’s tail shifting back and forth.

  “My beautiful baby,” he muttered. “I’ve missed you.”

  The brush of his hand was so light. The way he whispered into the horse’s ear completely out of character. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him, even though the other babies continued to vie for my attention.

  “You’re right, Alessandra. When you infuriate me, I respond and not always in the best way. I’ve spent a good portion of my life pretending that other people’s feelings don’t matter. The truth is, they haven’t in any regard. You’re the first person who’s come into my life that has challenged me this way.”

  “I don’t know what you want me to say, Gabriel. These last few days have been amazing, but they’re not real. You don’t have the capability of having feelings for anyone.” I could instantly see the cloud wrapping around him after issuing the harsh words.

  “That’s not entirely true. I did care about someone once. Sadly, as with the majority of aspects of my life, I wasn’t allowed to enjoy for more than a short period of time before she was taken from me.”

  “Is that why you ran away from Ireland?”

  He shifted his gaze in my direction, removing his sunglasses. “I didn’t leave, Alessandra. I was forced away; told in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t allowed back until I paid off my debt to the family. They had no idea what that did to me nor did they care. Coming to America meant foregoing graduating from Oxford, accepting a leadership in my family’s business. I came
here with two suitcases and ten thousand dollars, my father telling me in no uncertain terms that my inheritance was cut off, the money in my bank account frozen. There would be no allowance, no calls accepted, especially to beg for additional funds. Or forgiveness. I assure you, there were rules. Rules to live by. Rules in order to build the family brands. Rules.” Hissing, he gripped the fence, his fingers white-knuckled. “My father expected me to fail. I proved him wrong.”

  The words seemed to hang in the air. Horrible and damning, I was beginning to understand why he was riddled with such violent anger. What in God’s name had he done that was so horrible to necessitate his father’s actions?

  “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry.” There was nothing else I could say, no words that would either calm or soothe him.

  A full minute ticked by.

  Chuckling, he nuzzled against the horse. “Don’t be sorry for me. I’ve made the best of a life I wasn’t expecting.”

  “In a shrine that you wanted filled with people you loved.”

  “The house isn’t a shrine. Just four walls and a roof. What else is it supposed to be?”

  “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” I half whispered. “You are very lucky, even with all you had to endure.”

  He snorted, kicking his boot into the dirt. “Luck has nothing to do with everything I’ve built, especially this ranch. I worked long and hard to make it exactly the way I wanted.”

  “Yet to live alone.”

  “I’m not alone any longer. Am I?” he asked, the whispered words floating toward me. “What happened to your mother?”

  I hadn’t expected the direct question. He seemed to know everything about me already. Why bother? “She died a long time ago. A heart attack at only thirty-seven years old. Her death was a crushing blow for my father, but we survived. The sad truth is that I thought we’d flourished. I guess I was wrong.” I loathed the dead silence. “I know that doesn’t mean anything to you.”

  “Don’t play that game with me. For years, all I wanted was my father’s forgiveness, to be able to go back home. Then I realized that pipe dreams weren’t worth wasting time on.”