“Yes, Joshua.”
“I’ll call tomorrow. Good night, Rose. Sleep well.”
He hung up the phone and watched her for a few minutes as she curled up on the sofa naked. She was exhausted. He smiled. He couldn’t wait for tomorrow night.
Chapter Twelve
Rose woke naked in Joshua’s bed. The sun was up. She looked at the clock on his bedside table. It was nine o’clock. She knew she wasn’t allowed to sleep in his bed, but he wasn’t there and he would never know. After their phone sex the night before and the night before that, although it had been satisfying, it made her want him more. She stuck her face in his pillow and breathed his scent. She really did miss him. That had not been a lie.
Rolling over, she stared at the ceiling. She hoped Kevin would stop by and check in on her today. She liked him. The man she had heard sing for her was a far cry from the incorrigible flirt she had initially met. His voice was really good, but the song he had written was exceptional. She had felt his sadness through the beautiful melody and accompanying lyrics. She wasn’t an expert when it came to music, but it hadn’t taken a genius to know those words had come from his heart. She knew what she liked and she had been more than taken by his talent.
The song had allowed the real Kevin to surface. He was right there for here to see. When he had practically run out the door after, she knew it was only because he had been uncomfortable and unprepared to have revealed so much of himself to her. He obviously wasn’t used to letting people see that side of him. Now that he had, maybe they could be friends…at least for the summer.
A bitter laugh escaped from between her lips. If Kevin knew why she was really staying with Joshua, he wouldn’t want to be her friend and he certainly would never have allowed her to glimpse the man behind the mask he wore like a cloak to protect him from the pain that she knew ran deep within him. It seemed she wasn’t the only one with secrets. She grimaced.
Someday, all this would be behind her. She would be free of her mother’s and her aunt’s penance. But for now she had a debt to pay. As much as she wished she and Kevin could be friends, she knew it wasn’t possible.
She heard her cell phone ringing. She ran into the living room where she had left it, thinking it was Joshua. One glance at the screen and her heart sank. It was Mistress Adams.
“Rose,” Mistress Adams purred. “How are you? I’m assuming all is well since you haven’t been returned.”
“Everything is fine.”
“Then he’s satisfied with you?”
“Yes.”
“Is he there?”
“No. I’m here alone right now.” Why had she told her that? Quickly she said, “But I won’t be alone for long. What do you want?”
“I just wanted to check in on you, dear. It’s my job to follow-up on my subs when they have a new assignment. I didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten about you.”
“That thought never entered my mind,” Rose said sarcastically.
“I see you haven’t lost your ungrateful attitude. I hope you’ve been able to curb that unfortunate personality flaw with your Master.”
“You’ve taught me well.”
“Good. If I hear otherwise, you’ll find yourself back in training and this time, now that you’re no longer a virgin”—she let the word sink in—“your training will be much more realistic and intense. I will see to it personally.”
Rose shivered. Just the sound of the woman’s voice made her entire body go cold, let alone what she was threatening.
“No witty comeback, Rose?” Mistress Adams laughed. “That’s a first. Don’t get too comfortable where you’re at, you’ll be back with me and on to your next client before you know it. Now, tell me, do you enjoy being fucked?”
Rose felt the blood drain from her face. “That’s none of your business.”
“Oh, but it is, and you know it, so stop acting so high and mighty. I asked you a question. It would be in your best interest to answer it.”
“No. I don’t like being fucked. I tolerate it because I know I have to.” She could never tell that woman the truth. She would only use it against her.
Mistress Adams laughed again. “Poor Rose. Such a martyr.”
“Is there anything else? I have to go.”
“Take care, Rose, and most especially, take care of your Master. I’ve been paid well for your services.”
Rose ended the call and threw her phone on the sofa. She turned to go back to Joshua’s bedroom when she stopped dead in her tracks. Joshua was staring at her from the kitchen with such a look of loathing on his face that she could feel it penetrate every bone in her body.
He was wearing a pair of black jeans and a white linen button down shirt that was open at the collar. She drank in the sight of him before she felt her knees go weak. When he had gotten home? Fear gripped her. His eyes flashed dangerously with undisguised anger as he did nothing but stare at her without speaking. She knew without a doubt that he had heard every word of her conversation with Mistress Adams.
“Joshua,” she said just above a whisper. “It wasn’t…”
His mouth was set in a grim line as he walked to the front door and opened it. She wanted to stop him, but what could she say? The truth wasn’t an option. She watched as he slammed the door behind him. With a cry she crumpled to the floor. She hadn’t meant those things she had said, but he would never know that. Gasping for air, she put her head between her knees. She must be having an anxiety attack. Finally she started to breathe more normally. However, the ache in her heart only became more painful. It was over. He would never keep her now, and if he did, he would make her pay for playing him for the fool. His contempt for her was nothing compared to how she felt about herself.
She wasn’t sure how long she sat on the floor in misery when she heard a knock at the door. Joshua? Why would he knock? Then she heard the key, and the door opened. Kevin walked in.
“What the hell,” he said when he entered the apartment and saw her. “Rose?”
“Kevin.” She tried to smile as she lifted herself from the carpet, forgetting she was only wearing an oversized T-Shirt. “I lost an earring and was looking for it,” she lied.
“You want me to help you find it?”
“No. It’s not here. I’ll find it eventually. Thanks.”
“Just get out of bed?” he asked as his eyes roamed over her from head to toe.
Looking down at her barely clad body, she said quickly, “I should get dressed.”
“Rose,” he said, moving toward her, not stopping until he was almost touching her, “Have you been crying again?” His fingers lightly ran down her cheek.
“No,” she breathed, unable to tear her eyes from his gaze that was all but consuming her.
“I know you’re with Joshua, but I…” he whispered, his eyes continuing to hold hers, his breathing becoming irregular.
Sudden panic engulfed her. With a shove, she pushed Kevin away before his lips could touch hers.
“Please,” she whispered, backing up.
“I know,” he said, looking lost and ashamed. “Forgive me. That was stupid.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, feeling in some way she was at fault. “I never meant to give you the wrong idea.”
“You’ve never been anything but nice to me, Rose. I’m the one at fault here. I let my emotions get away from me. I knew I shouldn’t have come back today. Joshua wanted me to check on you, not try and molest you. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing happened, Kevin. There’s no reason to bring Joshua into this. Who knows what his intentions really are?”
“What are you saying, Rose?”
Not wanting to pursue the conversation, she turned away from him. “I need to get dressed.”
“Right. And I need a cold shower.” He laughed hesitantly. “It won’t happen again. I promise you that. You don’t need to be afraid of me.”
She nodded her head. “I know.”
Forcing herself to walk slowly, she went to her bedroom and closed t
he door. She threw on a pair of jeans and pulled a lightweight sweater over her head. All she could think about was what had almost happened. Kevin was a good guy, but no matter what he had said, somewhere inside his brain, he had thought she would welcome his attention. She must have done something to make him feel that way. His eyes had told how guilty he felt and he was probably debating about whether he should tell Joshua. It could ruin their friendship even though she was sure Joshua would blame her, no matter what Kevin said.
Suddenly she felt claustrophobic. Her heart was pounding out of her chest and she was finding it hard to breath. Yanking her clothes from the drawers, she stuffed them into her suitcase that she pulled from the closet. She only took what was hers. She didn’t want the things Mistress Adams had sent ahead for her to wear even if she had room for them. She had forgotten the bathroom. She quickly removed all her toiletries and threw them into her suitcase. Best to leave before Joshua came back. Kevin’s guilt was written all his face. Joshua would know. She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t come between Joshua and Kevin.
Taking a deep breath, she sat down on the bed for a moment to steady her nerves. She looked up to see that Kevin had entered the room and was staring her. He looked at her suitcase, his eyes registering his confusion. “Where are you going?”
“Back to where I belong.”
“Don’t go, Rose. I’m sorry about what I did and what I said. I had no right. Don’t go because of me.”
“It’s not just you, Kevin. My time here is over. It was over before you walked in the door. I have to go.”
“Let me call Joshua. Talk to him first. You can’t just leave.”
“I can and I am. Don’t try and stop me. Talking to Joshua won’t change anything.”
She wheeled the suitcase by him, praying he wouldn’t touch her. If he did, she knew she would fall apart. He didn’t.
“Rose,” he called out to her. “I’m sorry. Please.”
She could hear the anguish in his voice. He didn’t deserve this. He had done nothing wrong except follow his own instincts that she had obviously encouraged without meaning to. It wasn’t his fault that she was a trained submissive who had been taught to entice men and then let a man do whatever he wanted to her without question.
She turned, before she opened the door. “Don’t worry about Joshua. He’ll understand. He never really wanted me here anyway. He’ll be glad to be rid of me.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“It’s true. Believe it. Good-bye, Kevin.”
She half expected him to come running after her. He was probably calling Joshua. She was sure once he had spoken to him that Joshua would confirm that he was happy she was leaving. And that would be the end of it except for her there would be no end to her nightmare. It was only beginning. Once she was in the taxi, she would call Mistress Adams. She felt the tears that were threatening to fall. The full weight of what she had done hit her. She couldn’t fall apart. Not now.
The elevator door opened.
“Going somewhere, Rose?”
Gasping, her eyes widened. Joshua was standing directly in front of her.
“I said are you going somewhere?” His eyes snapped with anger as he took in her suitcase. He didn’t move.
“I’m leaving,” she whispered.
“I don’t remember giving you permission to leave. Or have you forgotten our arrangement?”
Her whole body shook. Instinctively she cast her eyes downward.
“Joshua!” Kevin stood in the doorway of the apartment. “You’re back. I made a helluva mess of things. It’s not Rose’s fault.”
Joshua looked over her shoulder at Kevin who was walking toward them. “What’s not her fault?” he asked, his voice cold, emotionless.
“I made a pass at Rose. I thought…”
“Thought what? She was yours for the taking?”
“It’s not like we haven’t shared women in the past. But I was wrong this time. I knew Rose was different and I acted like a damn fool…nothing happened,” he added. “Nothing.”
“Oh, she’s different all right.” Joshua’s eyes flashed dangerously.
Kevin voice sounded pained. “I’m sorry, Rose. I’ll leave you two to work things out. I fucked up. I hope you both can forgive me.”
“You’re right. You should leave. But, I can’t really hold you responsible. Rose is a professional at making men want her. I knew that. I don’t know why I’m surprised that she was more than willing to service you, too.”
Rose stepped back and looked between the two men. Her body went rigid. She felt icy fingers of dread grip her heart as her eyes met Joshua’s that were angry, but it was the pure malice she saw within their depths that made her steel herself against what she knew was coming.
Kevin just stared between the two them, trying to grasp the meaning of Joshua’s words. “Service me? What are you talking about?”
“Her innocent act has really been perfected. She’s anything but. The fact is she’s a paid whore. A gift from my father that he bought for me so that I could have my very own submissive for the summer.”
Kevin’s jaw dropped. He continued to stare between the two of them with a look of total shock and disbelief. He started to say something but stopped himself.
“So don’t feel so bad. However, she is mine for the summer, so if you want her, you’ll have to wait until I’m through with her and then if you still want her in your bed and you have enough money to pay for her, she’s yours.”
“Rose,” Kevin said hoarsely. His eyes locked with hers, begging her to tell him that Joshua was lying.
She looked away. His eyes would haunt her forever. All she wanted to do was disappear, never to be heard from again, but she was trapped. She’d been acting on pure emotion and impulse—a foolish, childish act of defiance. How stupid she had been to forget her place and think she could just walk away.
“Jesus,” Kevin said, his voice just above a whisper.
“Sorry to ruin the illusion, but it was more than time you knew the truth. I only kept it secret because I wasn’t proud of what my father had done. But, hell, I don’t want you beating yourself up over being taken in by a woman like Rose. You understand now.”
“It’s not possible,” Kevin said, turning back to Rose. “Tell me it’s not true.”
With a strangled cry, Rose ran away from the two men and into the apartment, her suitcase forgotten by the elevator. She couldn’t stand the look of pity and she was sure disgust that she knew would be in Kevin’s eyes or the contempt she had seen in Joshua’s.
Blinding pain seared through her head and her heart. She threw herself across the bed and buried her face in her pillow. She deserved their contempt. It was nothing less than she felt for herself. However, the utter hopelessness and despair that cut through her brought with it a kind of pain she had never felt before. Even Mistress Adams hadn’t been able to make her feel self-hated. Only Joshua had been able to do that.
“Rose.”
Joshua’s voice penetrated through her pain and humiliation. He was in her bedroom. She didn’t move, keeping her face buried in the pillow, wishing more than anything that she didn’t still want him. What was wrong with her?
“You’ve been a very bad girl. And you know what happens to bad girls.”
She felt her heart constrict and her body go rigid. His words were delivered like a true Dominant. For the first time since she had been with Joshua, she was truly scared.
Chapter Thirteen
Joshua sat in his study and stared at the computer screen. It had been over an hour since Kevin had left and he had found Rose in her room and ordered her into the kitchen where he had watched her strip and kneel on the tiled floor before he had blindfolded her. He felt her fear but couldn’t bring himself to do anything but relish it. He wanted to hurt her the way she had hurt him. He had left her there without a word.
Turning in the doorway, he watched her tears soak the blindfold. She cried so easily. Possibly that was part of
her training. Her beautiful body trembled as she stayed in position with her palms upward against her thighs. Her legs were spread so he could see her pussy that he wanted to fuck so hard that she would cry out with pleasure or pain. He didn’t care which as long as long he made her feel something. She had allowed Kevin to touch her. He owned her. It was that thought that had made him turn and walk away from her. He was afraid if he touched her in the state he was in he might really hurt her.
She had gotten in his head and now he was paying the price for it. He should send her packing back to Mistress Adams, but he couldn’t deny he still wanted her regardless of the fact that she was just tolerating his touch and had sought another’s. He had never felt such anger and jealousy before in his life and the thought of Kevin’s hands on her had only fed his rage. It had swept through him, relentless, like a storm in an inescapable vortex of destruction. She had made him want her like no other woman and that infuriated him as much as her betrayal.
He had punished her but in a different way when he told Kevin who she really was. He remembered the look of shock followed by shame and if he had read her right, humiliation. That was exactly what he had wanted to see on her beautiful face, but now that he was calmer, her reaction didn’t make sense. Why would she have cared what he or Kevin thought of her? Kevin had looked at him like he was the devil incarnate before he had walked into the open elevator, unable to meet his eyes.
Turning from his computer he lifted himself from his chair and stretched his taut muscles. He couldn’t leave her kneeling in the kitchen forever. Slowly he forced himself to walk into the kitchen. He was about to order her to her room, when he took in the scene before him. She was kneeling but not the way he had left her. She was scrubbing the floor minus her blindfold and from the odor that assailed his nostrils, he was pretty sure she was cleaning up her own vomit.
Looking up to where he was standing, she said just above a whisper, “I’m sorry, Joshua. I got sick. I couldn’t help it.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
All he wanted to do was pick her up and hold her in arms and tell her everything was going to be okay. But how could he? She had rejected him for his best friend, and that was unforgivable.
Deception, Dominance, Desire (Siren Publishing LoveEdge) Page 10
