Page 27 of Queen Of WildCards

"Comeon out, beautiful.Ibet you've got to use the bathroom, and stretching your legs will do you good."

Withher hands still bound behind her waist, the trip from one side of the enclosure was long, but she made it, and even refused the handIoffered to help her rise from the floor.Likea stubborn mule, she frowned at my smile, rolling back on her heels to let momentum rock her forward enough to engage her core and lift up on her feet.

Andthen she swore at the pins and needles as her legs gave out beneath her.

Withnot a second to spare,Ireached out and caught her around the waist, preventing her complete collapse at my feet, and the dizzying scent of her perfume invaded my nostrils, heady and sweet, just like her voice.

"C-Cass?" she mumbled, shaking like a leaf in my embrace.

Shesounded so small, so frail, like the girl in her dreams had bled over into the present and was slow in dissipating as she regained herself.Somethingdeep in my soul twitched painfully at my name, andIburied it for the time being, trying desperately to will my cock to behave.

"I'mhere, doc,"Icrooned, wishing we'd learned her name in the online search that had turned up her information. "Joker'sgot ya."

"Joker?" she blinked up into my soft gaze, and something clicked behind the depths of those fiery amber orbs. "Wha—"

Themomentary loss of feeling in those long, fishnet-clad legs must have dissipated because it took her all of two seconds to stand on them herself and pull away from my arms as ifI'dscalded her.

Mylaughter was genuine at her complete one-eighty.

"Comeon, doc, let's not get off on a bad foot this early in the relationship.I'vegot a reputation to protect."Iwinked salaciously at her and was rewarded with a pretty blush across her cheeks. "Therewe are.Now, here's the deal—I'llcut the zip ties and let you handle your business as long as you promise to behave."Completeand utter silence met my demands, soIcontinued, frustrated that she wasn't fighting as she had earlier in the alley.

She'ddamn near gotten away—four of us, bested by a woman.

Whatkinds of horrors had she faced in her life to be so slippery now?

"Afteryou take a piss and wash up,I'llfind you something to eat and get you a drink.Maybeeven let you sit on the couch with me instead of staying in that horrid little tiger cage."

ThereactionIgot was the oneIexpected—confusion.Shestared up at me likeIhad morphed into a completely new being before her eyes.

"Whyare you being so nice all of a sudden?" she hedged, wariness creeping into that sultry voiceI'ddreamed of since the first timeIheard it. "Youkidnapped me right off the street, threw me in a cage, and tied me up.Youcan drop the nice guy act, you know."

"Callit penance, doc,"Imuttered, turning to lead the way. "Followclose, and keep your mouth shut.Ifthe guys find you out of your cage, it'll be both of our asses."

Silence.Itook it for acquiescence.

Ipadded quietly down the hall in nothing but socks and sweats, the floor absorbing any sound my movement made as we left the commons behind and entered the part of the warehouse thatlookedlike a home.Forall intents and purposes, itwasa home.Justnot one a normal person would grow up in.

Thewalls were corrugated metal in the commons, but here,Acehad put up actual structure and walls, soundproofed the torture room, and made our quarters to each of our liking.Wallswere finished and painted how we wanted, floors carpeted, and doors heavy with locks on each one.

Notthat a lock would keep half of us out of anything.Itwas more of a formality than anything else.Exceptfor the ones onBlackJack'sdoor.Those, none of us even dared to pick.AndIdoubted we'd be able to get through one.

Wehad our own en suite bathrooms, soItook her to mine at the end of the hall.Thedoor swung wide—Inever bothered with locks whenIwas home—andIheard a shocked little gasp escape the pretty doc's lips behind me as she caught her first glimpse of my den.

"It'ssomething, isn't it?"Iteased, throwing my arms wide asIstepped aside to permit her entry. "Thisis my little slice of criminal heaven.Bathroom'sthe door over there on your right."

Theneed for a bathroom visit must have temporarily abated because this girl wasnotmoving.Motionlessin the center of my room, her eyes fanned over the personal space like she was trying to psychoanalyze it.

Fuck, that's right, she's a shrink.Sheprobablywastrying to decode me.

Thewalls of my room were all colorful, not a single muted or neutral shade to be found.Thewall the door was built into was a deep green, the left and right were vibrant yellows, and the far one, where my bed sat pushed up against, was covered in the biggest tapestryIcould find.Itwas a beautiful piece of art that depicted the teachings of theKamaSutrain vivid detail from multiple angles and positions.Iwatched the doc roll her eyes at that and move onto my bed, which was unmade and full of pillows and silk sheets.

"Youdon't lack for opulence, do you?" she muttered to herself, turning to the desk along the wall by my closet. "Ibet your closet is as chaotic as the rest of it."

Iquirked a brow at her observations. "Playingshrink now, are we?"

Hersoft smile could light up the darkest pits of hell, especially when it was genuine and playful, like now. "Inever play at my profession,Cass."

Hervoice was a breathy whisper and barely audible, but my ears picked up every word.Therewas something there, somethingIwas missing, but now wasn't the time to dive into her psychoanalysis bullshit. "Okay, come here, andI'lldeal with those restraints."

---