Page 87 of Deadly Rival

As he sheds his trousers, I do. My stomach clenches at the demeaning instruction, and Christ, I’m soaked. A miserable, nagging part of my mind screams at me. I’m weak. I’m a slut for enjoying this. I should be fighting him like the Calder princess I am.

Fuck it. I’m sick of that voice. I spread my legs.

“Oh, there’s a good girl.”

Sebastian climbs on top of me, lines his cock up with my entrance and spears me in one rough thrust. I’m wet and ready, but the sudden stretch still makes me cry out.

He lets out a dark chuckle. “Shush with that noise. You’re made for this. Made to be fucked, by me, every day for the rest of your life.” He starts to move, and I moan at the deep, deep satisfaction that liquifies my limbs. God, he’s hitting something in me with every stroke, and it’s melting my brain.

My eyes close, and his hand cups my face. His thumb presses on my lips, and I open up, tasting the salty tang of his skin. “That’s it, pet. Let go. Let go and enjoy it.”

His voice has gravel in it, turned rough by his desire. I shift my legs apart, and he groans, thrusting even deeper. He hits that magic spot, over and over, and all I can manage is a strangled squeak around his thumb. I can let go. With him, I can.

I let instinct take the wheel, mumble, “Yes, sir” against his skin, and press myself up to meet him thrust for thrust. It’s a different type of pleasure, hitting hard and deep. I surrender to it, and my thoughts still. There’s only him.

As he speeds up, my body builds to a new kind of peak. Too much and not enough all at once. It sends me feral, chasing the edge, and before I know what’s happening, my hands are on his back, nails digging into his skin.

“Oh,” he grinds out. “Oh, fuck, yes.”

It’s enough. I explode, clenching hard on his cock as another climax rips through me. I cry out, and my teeth graze his skin. He shudders above me, groaning as he slams in one last time, locking me to the bed with his body.

His weight is a comfort as he drops his head to my shoulder. All I can hear is the mingled sound of our heavy breaths. When he raises himself up on his elbows, smiling down at me, I miss the pressure.

“Well—” He pushes a sweaty strand of hair away from my face. “—I think that counts as lettinggo. Well done.”

I match his smile as the pleasure ebbs and a tired sort of champagne fuzziness replaces it. I don't drink much—not a ladylike habit—and it went down much easier than I expected.

Sebastian kisses my forehead in that odd way of his, caring and patronizing all at once. It sends a cozy little shiver through me as he gets to his feet and covers me with my blanket.

“Don’t I get to sleep in the bed?” The words come out mushy, twisted up by impending sleep.

He strokes my cheek. “Not today. If you stay, this is how it’ll be. Sometimes you get to be the beautiful, smart woman you are. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do. But sometimes I want you as my pet. And right now, you’re my good little pet.”

It should annoy me, but it doesn’t. He’s honest, not trapping me here with pretty words. If I stay, it’s on his terms.

He strokes my hair as I fall asleep.

***

“It doesn’t matter what we wear. We’ll be butt naked.”

Quinn’s attempt to make me feel better doesn’t quite hit the mark, but I give her a weak smile anyway. I envy her. Since she arrived this morning, she’s done nothing but chatter about how excited she is. For her, this is a big day she’s worked toward for months. No life-ending decisions rest on her shoulders.

I woke with a dry mouth and a pounding head. Not long after coffee revived me, Sebastian’s crew of friends arrived in a big, noisy group, and it came as a relief. Sebastian isn’t himself today, and I can’t blame him. Knowing your life rests in the hands of your captive would be enough to keep anyone quiet.

Quinn, Eve, and I are in the bedroom, getting ready. Eve is dressed up—a pretty sundress, heels, and an updo. She got hermakeup professionally done at the salon and said there was a queue. Today is a solemn occasion for the Brotherhood, where everyone is expected to look their best.

The men are all wearing smart suits. No change for Sebastian, but Jacob and Gabriel both look so different it jarred me at first. Jacob, in particular, looks even more dangerous than usual. What will he do if I consign his best friend to death today? Will he accept it or pull out a gun and start shooting?

I can’t even think of it without wanting to vomit.

I sit, mute, as Quinn does my makeup and tidies my hair. Eve starts to run us through the order of the ceremony one last time, but Quinn interrupts. “Oh my God, do you think Jacob will make me crawl over to Kendrick and kiss his feet like you did?”

Eve’s face blazes bright red as I whip around to face her, some of my torpor vanishing. “What?”

“I…God, that was horrible. Gabriel keeps threatening to make me do it again in the middle of a formal dinner. I’m not sure he’s joking.”

Quinn sits next to her on the bed. Her bright red crop top clashes eye wateringly with her green hair, but somehow, she makes it look good. “I wasn’t here for the last ceremony, but they told Gabriel he had to give Eve a final challenge. Something he knew she’d hate. That’s what he picked.”

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