Page 27 of Eden's Deliverance

Okay then. Theydefinitelytalked about me.

I shoot Casanova a nasty look as I turn away, but they don’t give me the courtesy of gaining a safe distance before their laughter rings through the club. That’s fine. He should enjoy a laugh while he can, because there’s nothing he can do about me fucking his friend.

It’s early enough in the night that many of the rooms are still vacant, so I choose the first one available and leave the door cracked for him. This room isn’t far off from the White Room; it’s basically just a normal bedroom. The only noticeable difference is a cabinet similar to the one in the Green Room, but in place of the whips and paddles are a collection of collars, chains, and weird rubber masks.

The door clicks shut behind me, but before I can turn to see him, something loops over my head and tightens around my neck. He steps against my backside while I’m scrambling to breathe, frantically grabbing at the thing cutting off my air supply.

“It’s called a slip chain choker,” a familiar voice grumbles in my ear, but it’s not the one who should be here. “Nice, isn’t it? You’d better relax, or it’ll only get worse.”

I manage to weasel my fingers under the chain, giving myself half an inch of relief to ask, “What the fuck are you doing? You’re an Amethyst tonight.”

I’ll never get used to his derisive laughter without it giving me chills. “So are you,” he retorts. “Did you think we wouldn’t notice your little switcheroo in the bathroom? We’ve got eyes on you at all times. I thought you’d have realized that by now.”

“You’re crazy,” I spit, still fighting just to breathe.

“Crazy foryou, Ruby. I told you, you’re playing a dangerous game. You thought you could pull one over on me, but that’ll never happen.” He gives the chain an abrupt tug, pinching my fingers between it and my aching throat. “Areyou afraid, darling? Scared of being punished for lying to me? Worried that you’ll like what I do to you?”

Here I am, fucking crying again. I can’t stop it from happening; the tears fall without permission. I just wanted to try something different or someone new. I wanted to prove that even though I act powerless around him, I’m more than this.

I wanted to make him feel jealous, angry, and undesired.

Despite the fact that I would absolutely choose Broody in a heartbeat, I also wanted Casanova to give up on his mission to drag me to the Red Room. If I could just evoke that feral, possessive side of him, he might realize teasing me isn’t worth it anymore.

He could fuck me right here—right now—without any of the games, but I’m not telling him that. Let him dig his grave.

“Please, I just want to go.”

He wedges his other hand between my legs, sliding it under my skirt. Rubbing it along the fabric protecting my pussy, one finger curls around the barrier to slip inside me. I let out a shrill squeak that only encourages him to explore further.

“See, I don’t think you do,” he hums into my ear. “I think you were hoping he’d be different than me. You thought he might actually fuck you instead of playing with you.” His finger thrusts deeper on the word ‘fuck.’ “The problem is, he’s worse than me. You just don’t know it yet. Or maybe you do, and you were just trying to upset me. Is that it?”

“No.”

I’m a liar. A dirty, dirty liar. A dirty, dirty, horny, soaking wet liar.

He jerks the chain again, but this time it’s meant to lead me like a leashed fucking dog. “On the bed, go.”

“Please, take it off. I can’t breathe.” My tears fall harder and faster than before, and I have to sniffle just to keep the snot from dripping out of my nose.

“Oh, Ruby.Did I ask for your opinion?” He asks sardonically, brushing a lock of hair off my forehead. “Yeah, I caught that. I said…get on the fucking bed.”

The chain is pulled so tightly now, my fingers are losing circulation. I keep my hold on it but step towards the bed, and he rewards my obedience by loosening the choker enough for me to spin around without decapitating myself.

They must have switched masks like Penelope and I did, because I’m staring up into an angry face of blue—only made more so by the dim LED lights emitting the same color from the ceiling.

“Like I said, a dangerous game. If you didn’t want to get choked, you shouldn’t have put on the mask,” he says, pulling the choker taut again.

I examine the chain in his hand and follow it up to the section around my neck. It’s just a long metal rope that’s threaded through a hoop on one end, making it look exactly like the leash he’s treating it as.

When I don’t say anything, he continues. “I admire your dedication. You’ll really put on any mask but a red one, won’t you? Odd, seeing as it’s obviously your color.” He looks me over once before poking his tongue out to wet his lips.

I think we’re both a little surprised when he instinctively reaches down to grab behind my knees, then hoists me up so my legs wrap around his hips. I have to put my arms around his neck to steady myself, but he slams my back against the wall to keep me in place. The rough impact forces a breath from my lungs, but he steals it when his tongue dives into my open mouth.

I don’t know what it is with this guy.

He’s hot and cold, then smoldering and icy as hell. He wants me but won’t have me, then refuses to let his friend have me, either. All of the back and forth, just to circle back around to wanting me again.

We’re on a merry-go-round of lust that neither of us can jump off of.

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