Page 54 of Broken Princess

I will be Max’s judge, and she will be his executioner.

I feel Benedict pushing me towards the door, the gentle squeeze of his hand on my shoulder reassures me even as I’m evicted. I find myself pacing up and down the corridor, trying to will the excess energy out of my system.

There’s no denying what I feel for Aurora, and in that realisation is the truth that her pain is my pain. The look in her eyes as she relived what Max did to her cuts me to my core, leaving an ache that buries itself bone deep and threatens to consume me.

I have no idea how long I pace, but eventually my steps slow and I’m leaning back against the wall, sliding down to the floor. Resting my elbows on my knees, I drop my forehead into my hands and take a deep breath.

I take a moment to fall apart—a moment Aurora was never afforded the luxury of—and now I need to pull my shit together.

I hear the door open again, and Benedict drops to his knees in front of me.

“Get up,” he demands, and I don’t move.

A smile works its way across my face, and I reach out to grab him by the scruff of the neck. “I do not take orders from you, Bambi.”

I pull him into me and as the familiar taste of him floods my mouth, I can’t help but moan. Pulling back, I add, “But thank you. I needed a moment.”

“Anytime… sir.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

BENEDICT

Ordering Nico to do anything isn’t something he lets me get away with. Unless I’m bratting, and he’s waiting for me to test the limits of his patience, poised to punish me. Just thinking about how that man thrashes my ass with a paddle makes my dick wake up.

But I had to remove him from the room when he startled Aurora. I can see how conflicted he is. He’s burning with a near uncontrollable need to protect her, avenge her. I feel it too. Only she’s not ours to protect.

I’ve never felt so confused, yet so sure of myself. The dichotomy is difficult to wrap my head around. I love Nico, but how I feel about Aurora is undeniable. I yearn for Nico to overpower me—to surrender to him. But I long for her too. I want to command her body. I want to feel her surrender to me… to us.

Fuck’s sake. Now I’m hard.

Nico leans back against the wall and rises to his full height, leaving me staring up at him, kneeling at his feet. He runs his hand from my temple, into my hair and forward, holding his palm at my jaw. He draws my chin up and demands my submission, my affection, my love. And I give it willingly.

Settling back on my heels, I sink into the familiar position. The pose I hold for my master when we’re in-scene. I can’t adequately describe the feeling of peace I experience at Nico’s feet. I lean forward and I nuzzle against his leg, and he strokes through my hair.

“Such a good boy, Bambi.” His words steal a moan from my lips and then he pulls me to my feet. That’s when we spot we’re not alone.

Aurora is staring at us, mouth open, chest rising and falling, and eyes blown wide. Whatever she saw between us, she liked. She liked it a lot. Nico, having centred himself, turns to her and takes her hand.

“I’m sorry, Aurora. I shouldn’t have reacted like that.”

She swallows and glances at her feet. “Why?”

“What do you mean why, Aurora?”

“Why did you react that way?”

I sigh and try to explain. “When you told us how you recognised the marks… the thought of you going through that? It was a lot.”

She steps forward, invading his space, “But why, Nico? I’m sure you’ve seen worse. Hell, you’ve probably inflicted worse.”

“Don’t ask that question if you’re not prepared to hear the answer, Rory,” I warn. I don’t think she’s ready to hear what Nico and I want to confess to her.

She considers my words for a few minutes and then nods, comprehending enough to know now isn’t the time.

Squeezing my hand and then clearing his throat, Nico encourages us along the hallway and says, “Since we got what we came for, we better get out of here.”

“How long have you guys been together?” Aurora’s voice asks from the backseat.

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