“Thalia, come to me. Now.” He couldn’t calm his voice down, and she looked terrified as she responded. While she moved towards him he was concerned his brother might grab her, might challenge him about her immediately. But he didn’t. She stumbled before finally sliding into a kneel at his feet. Her breathing was ragged next to him, and he wanted to comfort her – but any attention he paid to her would only attract his brother further.
“Good evening.” His brother had turned to meet his eyes, his cold voice moving like oil across the room. “I was surprised you didn’t meet me at the door. Were you busy?” Motherfucker. He’d known exactly where he was. He gritted his teeth against the things he wanted to yell at him, because he needed to get Thalia out of the room and away from him.
“Thalia, kneel in the hallway outside this door. Do not move.” She was slow to respond, and he was so angry he almost slapped her, but he forced himself to remember she was terrified. His eyes stayed locked on his brother across the room, and she finally obeyed. As soon as he heard her settle outside the door, he kicked it shut.
“What the fuck do you think you were doing?” He knew he was shouting too loudly. He knew Thalia could probably hear him, but it was either yell or hit his brother repeatedly until he needed corrective surgery.
“I told you I’d arrive soon.” The bastard had a small smile tugging at the edge of his mouth.
“Don’t pull that, you turned the cameras off so I wouldn’t hear her!” He walked towards him, but stopped on the near side of the bed. He wasn’t completely sure he wouldn’t hit him yet, and no amount of violence could fix what was wrong with him.
“I wanted a little privacy with her too.” His brother slowly licked his fingers, and smiled coldly, “She tastes like fear, have you noticed?”
“I think you bring that out in her.” He spoke through gritted teeth, the urge to break his brother’s hand was almost strong enough to make him move towards him.
“She wasn’t very responsive, and while it was endearing that she called for you – that won’t make us much money.” His brother wiped his hand on his pants and rolled his sleeves up.
“Then you should cancel the fucking party and give me enough time to repair the damage YOU caused.” He shouted again, but his brother didn’t even blink.
“Now, now... which of us made the bet that put her in that chair? Which of us carried her to it, strapped her down, hooked her up, and handed over control?” His brother’s silken voice was handling this fight like a business meeting, but he wanted to handle it a lot more physically. That just wasn’t an option. His brother could do so much damage.
“Go to hell.” He growled out and turned away from him to stomp to the bathroom. The fucker wasn’t going to make this all his fault. Every time his brother told him to do something, there was an unspoken ‘or else’.
“You know I don’t believe in that ridiculousness.” His brother’s voice carried in from the bedroom as he grabbed a towel and rubbed his hair with it. Of course not, believing in hell guaranteed them both a spot.
His body was wet and he did his best to dry off, and calm down, before he approached his brother again. The asshole always out-maneuvered him when they talked.
“I’m not changing the party. I have nine - NINE - confirmed for tomorrow. That’s two more than your last girl, and she was here three weeks. Apparently you’re not the only one infatuated by Thalia.” His brother had settled into a formal chair near the curtains that gave the illusion of a window to the room.
He made himself lean casually against the doorway to the bathroom, schooling his voice into a level response, “I’m not infatuated with her.”
His brother’s frigid laugh set his teeth on edge. “You can lie to yourself all you like, but I know you. And you want to keep that girl. You’re picturing sunsets and beach vacations with her kneeling at your feet.”
“I just want more time to train her properly!” He came off more defensive than he’d meant to, but he didn’t want to admit how much he wanted no one to buy her so she would stay with him longer. He wanted to wake up with her tucked against him again. He wanted to hear her call out for him in the night again – maybe even say his name.
“Then bring her back in here and let me have her.” His brother said it smoothly, and he felt the trap his brother had so carefully set snap shut around him. It was hard to breathe through the haze of anger that filled him. He was fucked no matter what he said.
If he told his brother no, he proved his point that he was infatuated with her, which only proved the necessity of selling her sooner rather than later.
If he said yes, he’d have to turn Thalia over to his brother for the night, or maybe longer if he cancelled the auction. He’d have broken his promise to Thalia. And who knows what fucked up things his brother would do to Thalia just to test him, to see if he’d come to her rescue again.
Damn him!
He turned back into the bathroom and a roar tore out of him as he slammed his fist into the tile. His hand exploded in pain.
“Shit!” He groaned loudly and shook out his fist, noting that he’d successfully split the knuckle on his ring finger and a swipe of blood was left on the wall.
His brother’s voice was closer, “You’re pathetic. Letting this slut get you so confused. She’s lucky there is so much interest in her or I’d break her just to teach you a lesson on getting attached.”
He turned and lunged for him, grabbing him by the shirt and shoving him backward. His brother barely reacted, as if he knew he wouldn’t hurt him. He shouted into his brother’s face, “I’m not con-”
“You are confused.” His brother interrupted him calmly and grabbed onto his wrists, gripping firmly. “The sooner she’s gone, the better it will be. You’ll forget about her in no time. Have you picked another girl off your list yet?”
His stomach twisted. He hadn’t even looked at the list of potentials since the first night he’d brought Thalia to the house. From the moment he’d seen her she’d gone to the top of the list, he had been impatient to hunt her. He’d left the previous girl locked up, alone, far longer than he should have as he had learned Thalia’s movements. Not like he’d ever admit that. He shoved his brother back and they let go of each other.
“You haven’t even looked at another girl, have you?” His brother sighed as he shook his head. “This is why I moved up the sale. I know you. Apparently better than you know yourself. This bitch is in your head.”
“Shut up. I just – I want a little more time with her. Alone.” He said it quietly, and shoved his fist into his hair, turning away from his brother’s stare.
“No amount of time will be enough, and you know it.” His brother sighed, clapped his hands together and took a step toward him. “I don’t know why I’m even entertaining your shit, but fine. I’ll leave tonight, but I’ll be back in the morning to make sure she’s ready for the auction, and if you can’t handle selling her, I’ll do it for you. And if she doesn’t sell, I’m taking over.”
“I’ve got it.” He growled.
“Are you sure?” His brother’s voice lifted a little, his doubt obvious.
It made his blood boil again.
“Get the fuck out. I’ve got it, she’ll be ready tomorrow.” He said it and as his brother moved toward the door he remembered Thalia was in the hall.
“Wait.” He moved in front of him, blocking the door. “I’ll move Thalia and then you can leave after.” His brother lifted his hands and shrugged. Turning away from him he yanked open the door, and Thalia’s soft gasp was like a punch to the stomach. “Follow me, Thalia.”
He stalked through the house, leaving his brother behind. As he walked he couldn’t help but hear her soft murmurs as she followed on her knees. When he got to his door, he unlocked it with a code and pushed it open. She crawled inside and knelt, but he didn’t follow her.
“Thalia...” He started and he heard her whimper.
“Master?” Her voice was shaking. Part of him wante
d to drag her to the bed and take her, to clean away his brother’s touch with his. But he’d hurt her right now, he knew he would.
“Stay in here. He can’t come in this room if he tries to come back.” He started to shut the door, but then he realized what was inside. His notes, his computer, the camera feed, everything he kept with him when he moved from house to house. He knew he sounded harsh when he spoke, but he couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice, “Don’t fucking touch anything. Get on the bed. I’ll be back later.”
Her perfect mouth opened slightly and then shut. “Yes, Master.”
He slammed the door, hearing the lock engage automatically. Then he walked to the front of the house and waited until he couldn’t even see taillights on the drive out front.
“Motherfucker...” He mumbled to himself as he replayed everything his brother had said. He’d responded badly, not even remotely calm, but he’d been so worried about her.
Worried? Fuck.
What was worse about the whole situation was that he was right. The asshole was right. Thalia was in his head, and she wasn’t the only one having dreams. If his brother wasn’t here, he’d shut the lights off, lock the house down, and pretend no one was home when the customers arrived. Then he’d tie her up and fuck her until he worked her out of his system. He always got bored with them eventually, but something inside him laughed at the idea. He knew it wouldn’t be that way with Thalia.
He saw the bottle of scotch that Thomas had left on the table and he went for it, grabbing a glass from the kitchen before he settled into the oversized chair in the living room.
He had to sell her tomorrow.
He poured an inch of the honey colored liquid and drank.
Maybe he could convince his brother to let him keep her? No chance.
More scotch.
He’d just have to deter interest in her. He nodded to himself as he drank again. He wouldn’t say any of his normal sales pitches, no highlight reel of her training, no demonstration.
Then no one would make an offer and she’d stay with him, and he’d just refuse to let his brother have her. He’d keep her locked in his room.
He didn’t want anyone else to touch her.
Ever.
Thalia was curled on the bed. His bed. She knew it was his because it smelled like him, a mix of the soap, and the way his skin smelled when he was warm and sweating and pressed against her. She trembled slightly, burying her face into his pillow, and for the moment all of it was oddly comforting. He was the lesser of two evils, and she’d choose him over his partner any day.
She was curled up under the covers, still waiting. She knew it had been over two hours because he had an alarm clock that currently read 10:14 in glowing blue numbers. It wasn’t very late, and she didn’t hear shouting any more, but she didn’t know where the guard was.
Even thinking of his partner made her throat tighten in panic.
He was more terrifying face to face. She had known it was him the moment she saw him. Tears streaked her cheeks as fear hollowed her out. What if the person who bought her was like his partner? Her body hadn’t responded to him, and the ideas that came to her on what he would have done without the guard’s interruption made her whimper. He had wanted to hurt her. She should have screamed for the guard right away.
Remembering his arrival calmed her a little. He had been so angry, but not at her. He’d yelled at his partner about her, about touching her. The rest had been hard to understand through the thick door, but she had been able to hear how angry the guard was, and the odd, cold voice of his partner.
It sent a chill down her back to remember it.
Shaking her head to try and stop crying she looked around the room again. His room. It had books on a shelf, an impressive computer station with large screens that were segmented into smaller windows. Probably the cameras, although everything was black. She had imagined his room messy, but it was actually clean and organized. His bedding was a mix of pale blue and light gray. It reminded her of fog. The flooring was the same throughout the house, but his bed was a simple wooden frame. The desk was a gray wood, and there was a cell phone. She noticed it as the screen lit up for a moment and then faded.
Her heart pounded. It was at least ten feet away, but he could have left the house. She could call for help and the police knew how to triangulate cell phone calls, right? Or they could track his number and find her.
‘Or he could catch you with it and beat you and turn you over to his partner for punishment.’ Her head was so helpful.
Her hands were shaking when she slid off the bed. She couldn’t believe she was going for the phone. He had to wonder where it was, she had always checked her phone throughout the day. Her heart was beating so loudly in her ears she was sure it could be heard outside of her. Her hand touched the desk and she heard the click of the door lock. Thalia jumped back from the phone but found herself stranded between the desk and the bed where she was supposed to be. Then the door opened.
He was nothing but a silhouette with the light from the hall behind him, but she could feel his eyes on her. “Thalia.”
“I’m sorry, Master. I -”
“It’s not your fault...” His words slurred together as he shuffled towards her. Was he? The smell of alcohol hit her when he was still a few steps away.
He was drunk.
He put his hands on her shoulders and then pulled her against him, and – hugged her. She froze, unsure of what to do. “Master?”
“It’s my fault. I picked you. I shouldn’t have picked you.” His words were even more muffled with his face buried in her hair.
“It’s okay.” She said soothingly, and then his arms tightened around her almost painfully.
“It’s not okay.”
She let out a squeak of pain as he compressed her ribs, but she continued trying to soothe him so he would stay calm. “You’re right, it’s not okay.”
Was he admitting what he’d done was wrong?
“You’re not addressing me properly.” The phrase would have been more threatening if it wasn’t so heavily slurred.
“I’m sorry, Master.” She murmured it and then he pulled her head back hard, his fist tightening in her hair.
“He wants you.” His blue-gray eyes were staring down at her, and terror seized her. She saw a flicker of pain move across his face and then he kissed her hard. Her lips felt bruised under his assault, his tongue swept into her mouth and she tasted the sour sweetness of liquor. His body pushed her back until she was pressed against the wall. He groaned and put his hand around her throat, but he didn’t squeeze, he just held her there as his mouth trailed down. “I won’t let him have you.” The words slid out against her skin, and she felt a flood of relief with the anxiety his touch always fueled.
“Thank you, Master.” She said quietly, and then gasped as his mouth found her nipple. He bit her and she yelped, but his hand pressed her a little harder against the wall. Heat bloomed low in her belly, her pussy growing wet as if it recognized his touch.
His tongue flicked against her nipple, and his breath chilled her skin as he spoke, “I don’t want anyone to...” He trailed his tongue across her skin and then he latched on to her other nipple. Her back arched slightly as his tugs against her hardening buds were torturously close to painful. “But he’ll hurt you if I try to...” his voice trailed off, still heavily slurred.
He lifted his head again and looked down at her. His eyes showed her how drunk he was, a little glassy and shiny in the dim light. His words weren’t making much sense, but they were terrifying her.
“I just wanted you so much.” He pressed his forehead against hers and she realized she was breathing hard. He groaned and lifted his head again, tightening his grip on her throat. “I had to have you.”
“Yes, Master.” Her voice was shaking.
He shifted his hand from her throat to her hair, and he pulled it so her neck arched. “You’re wet for me aren’t you?” His mouth moved along her neck and then
he took a long breath against her skin. “I can smell it.”
“Yes, Master.” She felt her pussy flood and she pressed her thighs together as a flush spread up her chest into her cheeks.
“Spread your legs, Thalia.” His voice was slurred, but there was no mistaking it as a command. She did, and he dropped to his knees in front of her. Then his mouth was on her. His tongue slipped between her folds and her hips bucked, letting out a moan. His hand grabbed on to her thigh and lifted her leg so he could delve deeper. She dropped her head back against the wall, her shoulders pressing hard into it as his mouth closed over her clit. She moaned again, her hand clenching in his hair for balance.
Security Binds Her (Thalia Book 1) (The Thalia Series) Page 16
