Page 11 of The Game

“Fine,” he growls before turning to glance at me over his shoulder. “You know where to be at closing time.”

He stomps off, an angry, spoiled child who’s had his favorite toy taken away. I stay still for a moment before I turn to leave, but Teddy’s low, melodic voice stops me. It is so much deeper and rich than his frame would indicate, beautiful in a dark way.

“I wasn’t joking, bunny. C’mon.”

Whirling on him, I can’t help but glare, even if he just inadvertently saved me from being assaulted in the hallway.

“No.”

He sighs, rolling his eyes and face to the ceiling. “You want me to go have handsy come back and finish what he started?” he growls, dropping his eyes to mine again. The painted band across those blue orbs shimmers in the lighting, giving him an ethereal, macabre look. It is as chilling as it is enticing, enchanting.

“Is that a threat?”

The side of his lips quirk up, and it stuns me into stillness and silence. He’s…genuinely smiling at me.

“Would’ve stopped him either way, but time’s wasting. Let’s go.”

My heart clenches at this, throbbing in a way it hasn’t in months. Before I know what I am doing, I’ve stepped closer to him, somehow safe under his imperious shadow. He’s about as tall as my twins, just not as built, but the glint to his eyes can go from gentle and kind to searing and demonic in a flash.

“What do I have to do?” I mutter, thankful for him stepping in, thankful he admitted he would have no matter what. Warmth envelopes me, but when his grin turns wicked, my muscles tense.

“All you have to do is stay perfectly still, little bunny, and let me do all the work.”

CHAPTER7

Alice

After dressing quickly in a black, sparkly lingerie set, I follow the tall form of Teddy through the darkness and back to the springboard. Hushed whispers float around us, and I am confused as to why all the lights are out. Warm, rough skin slips across the back of my hand, and I jump, but he clamps down harder.

“Careful,” he whispers. “Step up here.”

Obeying in my precarious heels, I allow him to lead me to the middle of the circular space, nothing of distinction visible with the lights dimmed so much.

“What—”

“Step up, there’s a stool here.”

Huffing in annoyance, he aids me in getting settled on the stool before he slips his hand from mine and instead grips my wrist, raising my arm out and high above my head.

“Teddy!” I hiss nervously. I am considerably taller on the stool and in my heels, our eyes almost level, and through that smoky darkness, his blazing eyes are there, mischief sparking his gaze and making my stomach tumble.

As soon as he smirks, a leather and sheepskin cuff is clasped over my wrist. Tingles form in the pit of my stomach as my mouth runs dry, the familiar tendrils of stark fear mingled with a type of arousal I grew addicted to rushing to the forefront. Swallowing thickly, I become instantly compliant in his surprisingly graceful hands, allowing him to clamp my other wrist in a similar position.

“Knew you’d like this, little masochist.”

“Fuck off,” I say through clenched teeth. His dark chuckle is ominous, and he drops down, gripping my ankle next.

“Grip the cuffs and lift your leg.”

Mouth dry as a desert while my thin thong suddenly becomes a trap for my excitement, I do as he says. Being at Daniel’s mercy is despicable, but something about Teddy is self-assured, his edges gentle, his inner demons dancing with sharpened fangs. It is in that moment that I realize it is the dichotomy that truly turns me on, a man who knows what he wants and will do whatever he can to get it, one who isn’t afraid to inflict pain, but one who can reign himself in—an empath. A reader of emotions.

Shivering as I lift my other leg, now suspended and pinned to a board like a true butterfly, my mind begins to race. He stands before me again, and I yelp as his fingers lightly brush my bare stomach, fastening a strap there as well. My chest heaves in anticipation of a flood of adrenaline, something I’ve missed for weeks. When his eyes find mine again, his smirk is devious.

“The only rule is the most important, Alice, do you understand?”

The way his voice has deepened, has gained that authoritative edge, has my legs fighting to close as my heart races.

“Y-yes,” I squeak, nervous and excited and feeling alive under his serious gaze.

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