Blood And Roses

by Lylah James

  She was the captor. I was the captive.

  She was the Master. And I was slave to her warm blue eyes that held so much pain.

  I saw her lips moving, but no words could be heard. My lips turned up in a small smirk, knowing I had finally broken through the barrier.

  She wanted to speak. For me.

  I waited as she tried again, but it was too late.

  Our moment was broken by a third voice. One that I wanted to forever cut off. If I ripped his tongue out, then he wouldn’t make any sound.

  “I see my slave has served you well.”

  Only sad part was that I couldn’t do it. Not yet, anyway.

  He was too big of an asset to my business to kill him off.

  After all, everything was business. Everything was a game to play.

  And I needed to play this game carefully so that the final move was mine.

  I looked down at my slave to see her eyes closed, a look of regret washing across her face. I knew if her eyes were open, I would see the pain there.

  She was just as heartbroken that our moment had vanished.

  I mentally huffed. Not so fast, little Angel. Our moment would never be broken, not until I decided so.

  Releasing her chin, I saw her shoulders slump down. Ah, I got a demanding slave on my hands. It appeared she didn’t like when I wasn’t touching her. Don’t worry, Angel. I don’t like it when I’m not touching you, either.

  My palm cradled the back of her head, and I pressed down until her cheek was lying on my thigh. She let out the tiniest sigh that anyone else would have missed. But I didn’t.

  I felt everything from her. The slight shiver. The small sigh. And I didn’t miss the small tilt of her lips.

  Her body was cradled between my legs as I stroked her neck and then her cheek. She sighed again, and I felt her body going limp, relaxing against my touch.

  She gave me the one thing everyone else wanted but couldn’t have.

  Her submission.

  And it was now more potent than ever. It had been fought for, and I won. Fair and square.

  “You sent her to me?” I asked quietly, so as not to disturb her.

  My eyes made contact with Solonik’s, waiting for his answer. He nodded with a dirty smirk, like he’d won something.

  He moved forward, coming closer to my Angel. His foot lifted up as if to touch her, but I swiftly moved, so her body was safely hidden in my embrace.

  The tip of his shoe made contact with my leg instead, and I watched his eyes widen in surprise.

  He stepped back, an eyebrow raised in question. “Yeah, I sent her to you. I thought maybe you need some relaxation. But unfortunately for my slave here, she broke my rule.”

  He tsked in fake disappointment, but I could tell that her breaking the rules made him excited. What a sick fucker.

  “What rule?” I demanded, getting angrier with each passing second.

  He wasn’t laying a hand on her. If he as much as dared to do so, he would have no fucking hands by the end of the night.

  Unfortunately for him, I always kept my promises.

  “She was ordered to come to me with her mouth full of your cum. I see that’s not the case anymore,” he drawled lazily.

  My throat worked up as I tried to stay seated. Fury built inside of me, as well as disgust, as I fought against the urge to puke all over his expensive shoes and suit.

  “You know what happens when a slave disobeys. She will need to be punished. And what a great night to punish her. We have everyone present. May this be a lesson learned for all the other slaves,” he continued slowly, watching for my reaction.

  And I gave him one.

  “No,” I said firmly, stopping his tirade of useless words.

  He sputtered, his eyes moving back and forth between her and me. “What do you mean?” Solonik hissed, his face turning a deep shade of red. “She is mine! I can do whatever I want with her.”

  “No, she isn’t,” I replied calmly while he completely lost it.

  His lips curled in distaste. “Are you fucking serious right now? Lyov, she sucked your dick. That’s all. Don’t act like she’s carrying your fucking child.”

  “She is not yours. Not anymore,” I continued over him.

  She was never yours to begin with.

  “Like hell! I own her,” he bellowed.

  My eyes moved back to my Angel, only to see that her eyes were closed, like she had fallen asleep. Good. I didn’t want her to witness this.

  I stared up again, and everyone’s attention was now on us. Well, it was about to get nasty for Solonik.

  “I’m buying her.”

  My voice was loud and uttered clear for everyone to hear. There were gasps and mumbling around the crowd.

  For years, this business had been operated, and I had never touched a slave, let alone buy one.

  But there is always a first for everything.

  All I knew was that I wasn’t leaving The Royalist without my blue-eyed Angel.

  “No. I’m not selling her,” Solonik said, his fingers curling into fists.

  My fingers continued to caress her hair as I regarded Solonik. He looked like a man possessed.

  Too bad for him, I was a man’s worst nightmare. If I wanted something, I’d take. And I wanted her.

  “Too bad. I’m buying her. Let’s do this the easy way. Either I walk out of here with her and you gain a couple of million, or we solve this the hard way. And trust me, Solonik, you don’t want to choose the second choice.” I spoke low but just loud enough for everyone to hear.

  He had the ultimatum, and it was his choice. But whatever happened, I was walking away the winner.

  “I’m walking out of here with her. Either you take the money, or you become a poor man overnight. Choose wisely. I am being very generous here.”

  “Solonik, you don’t want to test Ivanshov,” Gavrikov called out, laughing quietly. “Tonight is not the night. Give him the girl and let him make you a rich man. What more do you want?”

  Behind Solonik’s back, he nodded, letting me know I had his support.

  “It’s not an easy buy, Lyov. She is my most prized possession. You do realize what you are asking me to give up, right?” he hissed, looking down at my Angel.

  I wanted to gouge his eyes out for even looking at her.

  Not giving him an answer, I only leveled him with a glare. He released a long breath before tugging at his tie. “She costs a lot. You can’t afford her. Not in one night.”

  Nice try, bastard.

  I raised an eyebrow while chuckling quietly. “I’m sure I can afford whatever price. You seem to forget who owns this place, Solonik.”

  He stayed quiet, looking at me with hateful eyes. I stared back, with much more loathing in mine.

  “How much? One million? One point five? That’s more than anyone would give you,” I bargained.

  All I wanted was to get the fuck out of his place. Yet here I was, bargaining the price of my Angel.

  But she was priceless.

  Only I knew that. Everyone else thought she was an object to be bought.

  But I saw her with wings, flying…laughing.

  Loving me.

  My eyes widened at the thought, my breath stuck in my throat.

  No. What the fuck, Lyov?

  Keep her. Fuck her. Give her what she wants. But never love her.

  I couldn’t love or be loved.

  A cough brought me back to the present. Solonik smirked and then laughed. “You got yourself a good one, Lyov.”

  My brows furrowed in confusion as I waited for him to elaborate.

  “She is a virgin.”

  The world stilled. Everything halted to a slow pace and every noise faded away.

  I could only hear the sound of my breathing and the roar of my blood rushing through my ears.

  My eyes were drawn to her as she used me for comfort. My fingers were still stroking her cheeks, Solonik’s voice still vibrating through my ears.

  She
is a virgin.

  Impossible! How could she be a virgin? In a place like this?

  The first thing she would have lost when she came to a place like this would be her virginity. Then her dignity. And lastly her mind.

  I looked back at Solonik, and I just knew…he wasn’t lying. He wouldn’t lie about this.

  Remembering the shy look, the innocence in her gaze, I realized that my little Angel was untouched in places that only I would touch now.

  Mine.

  My heart was surprisingly at a steady pace, but every instinct in me was roaring for her.

  Territorial.

  Possessive.

  All fucking mine.

  The need to claim her hit me harder than before. The beast within me yowled with possessiveness.

  The realization had lust, intensity, and every other fucked-up emotion coming to the surface.

  I welcomed them, embraced them.

  Just like I was going to embrace her.

  I swallowed past the lump in my throat, finally finding my voice again.

  “How much?” I asked simply, desperate to get this over with.

  “Two million,” he said loudly.

  Everyone went silent at the price. Not even a virgin cost that much. Solonik was pushing it, hoping I would say no.

  The maximum price for a virgin was one point five. And not a lot even went for that price.

  Two million…it was out of the question.

  Solonik knew that. He smirked triumphantly, crossing his arms.

  What he didn’t realize was that whatever price he would have laid on the table, I would say yes.

  She was mine.

  And God forbid anyone refused me…they wouldn’t like the consequences.

  “Fine,” I said.

  He lost his smile, his arms falling to his side. “What?” he sputtered.

  Isaak hid a laugh behind his fist while Agron and Gavrikov snickered.

  “Nice one, Lyov!” Agron called out, winking.

  “But I want to check for myself.” Turning toward the blue-eyed Angel, I gripped the back of her neck.

  A possessive hold to show her exactly who was in control. Not her. Not any of those disgusting bastards staring at her naked body like it was theirs to look at. And sure as hell not Solonik.

  “Go the bedroom. I want you on the bed, waiting for me.”

  Chapter 5

  Lyov

  I watched her slowly coming back, her eyes fluttering open. She lost her smile as she gazed up at me with soulless eyes.

  I had to bite back a curse, knowing that in some ways I had hurt her already fragile heart. She thought I was no different than those bastards lusting after her body.

  The problem? I actually wasn’t better.

  Only because I didn’t only want her body. I wanted her everything. Until she had nothing left to give.

  I was selfish that way.

  Did it matter? No. I wanted her…so I would take her.

  This Angel quickly became an obsession that was going to break me in the end. She was both light and darkness.

  Me? I was only darkness. Our two worlds were about to clash together in the only way it could, and there was no going back.

  The moment I had laid eyes on her, she belonged to me.

  She slowly moved from between my legs, her gaze still on mine, silently begging. My finger trailed down her cheek, softly caressing her skin. Her face moved with my hand, like a kitten seeking warmth.

  My thumb brushed over her lush lips, and she blinked up at me, the moment broken yet again. Her eyes went to Solonik, and she swallowed in fear.

  I tapped her chin, wanting her attention back on me. I was her only concern now. No one else mattered.

  I was her everything. Her whole fucking world.

  “Go,” I said simply.

  Her training finally kicked in at the authority in my voice. Her head bowed down, giving respect like she would give any Master.

  I didn’t need her bowing down to me. We would talk about that later.

  Right now, I just wanted to get her out of everyone’s sight. Giving her the smallest respect and dignity back. It wasn’t much, but it was the only thing I could give. For now.

  The moment she stepped out of this place, her whole fucking world would change. The lines breaking, reversing, and then aligning again. New rules to play by.

  She was about to learn what it meant to be mine.

  Her hands went to the floor, her ass in the air as she prepared to crawl to one of the bedrooms. My voice stopped her movement.

  Actually, it stopped every fucking movement around the room. Dead silence. Nobody moved. No sound. I was pretty sure they stopped fucking breathing too.

  “Walk,” I demanded, my voice coming out harsher than I intended.

  The red blinding fury was building up every passing second. Seeing her crawling on her knees just made me want to shoot someone and cause a blood bath.

  Her legs were slightly shaking as she stood up, her eyes purposely avoiding Solonik. The slow walk to the bedroom was excruciatingly painful. It was too late when I realized that making her walk was the worst decision.

  Her bare body was full on display, her blinding beauty for everyone to see.

  When the door closed, I released a long, shuddering breath that I hadn’t realize I was holding.

  Solonik turned to me, his lips curled in anger. “You’re going to regret this,” he hissed.

  “No, I won’t. And you won’t, either. You will be a richer man by the end of the night. It’s time to party, Valentin,” I said, getting off the couch.

  After fixing my suit, I winked at him. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”

  I know I will.

  Keeping those words to myself, I marched toward the room where my Angel had just disappeared.

  No seconds were wasted as I opened the door and walked inside, making sure to lock it behind me. Nobody was disturbing us tonight.

  This moment…it will only be ours. Away from all the depravity of the world. Away from all the harshness…our reality.

  Just us.

  My eyes met darkness, and I blinked in confusion. My hand moved blindly across the wall, trying to find the light.

  When I finally did, the room was instantly illuminated, and my eyes fell upon the beauty waiting for me in bed.

  Our connection was fast. Breathtaking almost. One that left me confused and reeling.

  My mind was playing games with my heart.

  I had a choice. Fall into her trap or play the game like a master in disguise.

  My gaze moved up her body, taking in everything laid out for me. She was on her back, her legs pressed together, with her arms on either side of her.

  She was stiff, looking so small and scared. Like an Angel laid out for a sacrifice.

  In her mind, this was a sacrifice. I was just the Devil. The one who was going to rob her innocence.

  Little did she know.

  I took a step forward, finally making my choice. Smiling at myself, I took another step.

  With each step, my heart beat just a little faster…harder. With each step, I fought against the urge to claim her.

  I watched her chest rise and fall with each breath. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as I approached. Her eyes stayed on the ceiling, purposely avoiding me.

  She was scared.

  I wondered if I could get her excited by the end of the night.

  My lips tilted up. That wouldn’t be hard to accomplish.

  Stopping beside the bed, I only gazed into her face. She swallowed nervously, still not meeting my eyes.

  The black mask was covering her real beauty, and I wanted it gone. I felt her suck in a deep breath when I bent forward, my fingers latching around the corner of the mask and slowly removing it.

  Slowing uncovering her for my eyes.

  The mask fell on the bed beside her hips as her eyes fluttered close. Her long lashes cast shadows on her cheeks.

  She was…beau
tiful.

  Breathtaking.

  Sensational.

  Exquisite.

  Angelic.

  I was at a loss for words as my eyes caressed her face. Everything was fair in war…and this game was won by me.

  Poor Solonik. If only he had realized what he just lost…and what I just gained.

  Slowly, not to startle her, I sat on the bed. She stiffened, her eyes pinching closed. Leaning closer, I reached forward, my fingers hovering over her cheeks.

  Not touching, not moving…yet it still felt like I was caressing her.

  Her warmth called to me as I finally and slowly caressed down her cheek. Unexpectedly, her eyes flew open, and she blinked up at me in surprise.

  “Hi,” I whispered, sounding so fucking stupid.

  She only stared at me, looking confused. “You are so beautiful; do you know that?” I said softly, still touching her face.

  Slowly, her head shook no.

  “Well, you are. It pisses me off that nobody ever said that to you, but you are so fucking beautiful,” I continued, still staring into those blue eyes.

  While she remained silent, they spoke volumes. They told me everything I needed to know.

  It was so hard ignoring the ache that was currently resting between my legs, when all I wanted to do was take what was mine, but tonight was going to be different.

  “I’m not going to hurt you,” I whispered, leaning just a little closer. “That’s not why we’re in here.”

  She cocked her head to the side, waiting. “I want you to speak…say something. I want to hear your voice again,” I finished.

  This time it was me waiting…for her.

  She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut, her eyes flying to the door in panic. My body moved quickly so that I was between her and the door, so that I was the only thing she was seeing.

  “Solonik’s command doesn’t matter anymore. You don’t have to worry about him. Ever,” I growled, the anger fueling again.

  A ghost of a smile lit her lips before it was quickly gone and she was staring at me in suspicion.

  Great…just great. She didn’t believe me. Of course, she didn’t believe me. I just bought her. Well, not yet…but still.

  My hand moved up, moving a few stray strands of hair away from her face. “You have nothing to be scared of.”

  It was the truth, and now I just needed her to believe me.