Page 42 of Cruel Master

“I want it all,” Gaven said. “Your trust and the truth.”

I stiffened at that. Tell him the truth about the night my father was murdered? That would only paint a target on his back. I shook my head.

Gaven quietly leaned away from me, and as his gaze burned into my face, I shifted my eyes downward. Away. It was the only thing I could think to do. If eyes were the windows to the soul, then I didn’t want him to see into mine.

“Perhaps this isn’t the best place for a conversation this important,” he said after a beat.

A moment later, his body was removed from mine with startling speed. My hand was captured in his, and his fingers moved down to lock around my wrist, a manacle of strength. He yanked me away from the wall and started walking. Unable to free myself, I was forced to follow—rushing to keep up with his long gait, which he only eased after a moment as if realizing how difficult it was for me.

Gaven found one of the men from before—Ian, I recalled the man’s name—standing in front of another scene. My eyes trailed to the small stage that had been set up and I found America on her knees with a cushion beneath her as her long golden hair trailed in various shades of blonde and brown intertwined down her back. One man stood before her, his leather pants undone and his cock proudly straining as he held it out to her. Another man was stationed behind her with a light flogger.

“I’d like to reserve one of your private rooms tonight,” Gaven said to Ian, drawing my attention back to him.

I glanced up and then switched from him to Ian as the second man looked my way. Automatically, my gaze turned down. “That can be arranged,” Ian replied. “Any particular play?”

“I assume they’re all equipped with the usual?” Gaven asked.

“Of course, anything special will need to be ordered,” Ian replied.

“That’ll do.”

Even with my face turned down, I heard the sound of the flogger slapping flesh and America’s low, rumbling moan of pleasure, muffled by something in her mouth. I was heating up inside. My stomach churned at the noise. I shifted on my feet.

“I assume this is a punishment?” Ian’s voice lifted in questioning. Whatever Gaven said in response was swallowed up by the sounds of America’s scene.

I lifted my gaze and turned my head back towards the stage, catching it just as the man at her back hit her again with the flogger. Pink welts lifted along her back, but she didn’t appear to slow her sucking down at all as she took the man standing in front of her in her mouth, down to the hilt, with his hand at the back of her skull.

I saw it, but in my head, I switched positions. Both the man standing in front of her and behind her became someone else. Gaven. And America herself, she became me. I remembered what it had felt like to have Gaven in that position. Holding me against his groin as he fucked my throat raw. I shivered as my insides contracted with need.

In the years since, I’d never even tried to find another who could make me feel the way he did. His grip on my wrist tightened and he tugged lightly, distracting me enough that I shifted my gaze to his.

Dark eyes met mine and then softened. “This way, Angel,” he said.

I blinked, so overwhelmed by my body’s sensations that I barely understood him. It didn’t matter though, because I didn’t need to understand to be led by him. Gaven pulled me along, leaving behind America’s scene and the dungeon’s main floor as we headed for a darkened hallway lit only by scones on the wall next to each door.

I swallowed when we stopped in front of one of them and he lifted a card I hadn’t realized he’d had in his hand to unlock it. Ian must have given it to him. I didn’t notice because I’d been so focused on America’s scene, and now … there would be a scene of my own. Just like I wanted. Only this one would be private, and perhaps that was for the best. Because as Gaven yanked me inside and the door swung shut behind us, I felt my heart rate pick up speed and my pussy pulse with need.

He said he wanted a private conversation, but this room was not meant for conversation. There was only one thing it was meant for. Sex.

Disgustingly filthy, kink-filled sex.

19

ANGEL

Once inside, I took a look around the room. It was decorated in masculine tones: dark red wood, a four-poster bed, and a thick dark carpet under my feet. There were no windows, but cushions were everywhere. All over the bed and scattered at the end in a decorative array on the floor around a big trunk. My breathing hitched as I scanned the space across from the bed and found the ‘usual’ equipment Gaven had mentioned.

Apparently, ‘usual’ equipment meant a leather spanking bench and restraints hung on the wall. The restraints themselves were leather and metal—ranging from cuffs to chains to leather leashes. I swallowed sharply and jerked my attention back to the man standing before me.

His eyes sparked with heat as he released my wrist and took several steps back.

“Gaven?” I was proud of the way my voice didn’t shake, but that still didn’t deter my insides from trembling. For some reason, I had a feeling that something was about to happen between him and me that was going to change things. I couldn’t let it. I still needed to get away from him. The longer I lingered here, the higher the chance Jackie would find me. Plus, there was my client—Ronald, who was waiting for my contact. There was no telling if he’d already been found and killed. I hoped not.

I stepped forward, but Gaven stopped me with a raised hand. He turned away and strode across the room to a tall wingback chair that matched the rest of the room’s decor. He took a seat and spread his legs wide as he stared back at me.

I felt … entranced. Trapped and bound in his gaze. One hand rose to his face as he scrubbed a palm down his face. The dark shadow of a beard against his jaw had lightened since I’d known him five years ago. Specs of lighter gray could be seen there. I didn’t mind. It made him more attractive in my opinion. Regardless of how sexual he was, the fact remained I couldn’t let myself be contained by him.

“Come to me, Angel,” Gaven said, his voice a shock in the otherwise silent room. I jolted and took a step forward. “No.” He barked the word out so harshly I halted and nearly fell on my face. I looked at him in shock and confusion. He’d told me to come to him. Why had he stopped me?

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