Page 24 of Trapped

“Fuck him, papillon,” he growls. “Fuck all of them who’ve made you believe you’re not good enough.”

“You can’t say that,” I snarl. “You don’t know me.”

“I told you this, pretty boy. We have our entire lives to discover each other. But that—” He points his hand to the open room. Every single one of the cloaked men inside is openly staring at us, the only sound coming from the piano. “That has nothing to do with your family, and 100% with mine. I wanted you. I chased you down.”

“You drugged me,” I huff.

“You bet your ass I did, and I’ll do it again, over and over again if that’s what it takes to make you feel good. I want to discover every single spot that covers your body and soul. Want my spiders to crawl all over your skin.” I flinch at the sudden touch on my jacket. It’s only his fingers. It’s enough to grow warm again, to search for more of him, to enjoy the way my dick quivers inside my pants, hardening further with every breath I take.

“Right now, we’ll welcome you as a brother to the Alpha Fraternarii. You wouldn’t be the first passive brother in our ranks if you prefer focusing your time on your studies and your art.”

“My art?” I feel my eyes widen and my heart swelling. Arsène takes a step forward, finally putting both hands on my exposed cheeks, cupping them gently as he lets out a soft smile.

“My men are filling my rooms with your stuff as we speak. The days of you living in that dorm on your own are over. From now on, you will live with me.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry, papillon. I’ll make sure they add enough blank canvases for you to create new work. You can paint and relax as much as you like. Keep my little friends company.”

”Your little friends?”

Arsène tips his head back and chortles. “You’ll see soon enough.”

“Is this all still part of the game?” I whisper.

Scrunching up his nose, Arsène clasps a hand around my shoulder and pulls me close. I exhale a ragged breath, his touch grounding my glittery-filled view. I need him close to me.

“I don’t know if I’d call a future altering moment, a game. Do you?” He flicks his tongue out and laps at my ear, chuckling when I flinch. Ugh, what’s it with this guy and ears? “Besides, what’s the point in objecting?” He hums. “I’ve got you now, and I don’t intend to let you go. And the rest? We’ll figure it out as we go.”

“But that’s not how this goes.”

“No? Why do you always need to understand everything with your brain? It’s not like it’s of any use tonight.” A toothy grin. “It just is, papillon. It just is.”

Enzo clears his throat discreetly. “Sir, we really have to move forward now. They are waiting, and listening,” he adds, sounding uncomfortable.

Arsène doesn’t stop staring at me, waiting. I give him a slight nod, then clear my throat. Fuck me, I’m nervous. Hallucinating tranquillizer or not.

He smiles, then looks at the crowd, tips his chin in a greeting, before turning back to me. One of his hands snakes behind my neck and he yanks on my hair while dragging his teeth over my exposed neck. Forcefully. I let out a yelp, taken by surprise and the sting, eyes finally tearing after hours of dryness as I take in the beautifully decorated ceiling. He lets out a raspy chuckle against my skin when the crowd cheers.

“Arsène,” I whine.

“Hmm?” He nips his way up, tipping my head even further back by my hair, enjoying my wheezing begs to stop. He doesn’t. Instead, he keeps me down, only slowly dipping his own chin in search of my face. Then he licks my lips. Sounds of approval fill the dungeon room and our breaths catch the moment his mouth seals mine. He stays like this, keeping me in this painful, excruciating hold in a clear show of power. No kiss, no nothing. This is what he needs. This command, knowing that he’s got me in his grip. What’s more disturbing, is that I seem to need that too.

“Trust me.” He murmurs against my lips.

Trust him. Fear clambers up, but before I can protect myself, he shushes against my lips. “Easy, papillon. I’m not going to hurt you. But I am going to bring you inside that room and wrap you up on the altar. Then I’m going to prepare you really nice with that plug and with my tongue, and then fuck you until you beg me for release. How does that sound?”

My breath stutters, cock plump and throbbing against his. He knows it, knows that I’m hard for him. But this time there’s no mocking. This time, no matter how ludicrous it sounds, it’s like he’s waiting for me to agree. When I finally nod, he hums in approval and presses a kiss to my mouth and releases his hold, freeing the sting on my scalp.

And no matter what my brain tells me, my heart wants it too much. I want to go home. I want to belong to Arsène. I want Arsène to be home.

9

ROBIN

The dungeons of Monterrey Castle. I’ve visited them before, for movie nights and other activities, but never in the South Wing. And never did they look like this.

A foggy room, thick with the heady scent of spices, resinous and woody notes that penetrate my nose, swirling around my dazed state of mind. Like lovers.

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