Page 37 of Bought to Break
She looked away from him and let her head fall limply to the ground. ‘Because you’re a fucking liar.’
He said nothing.
She turned her head towards him. ‘And I wasn’t trying to escape.’ She closed her eyes and snorted softly. ‘I can’t even swim.’
He rolled on top of her in a sudden movement and she squeaked as his mouth crashed down on hers. She struggled under him for a moment as he parted her legs with his in a practised move and pulled up her sodden dress.
His mouth left hers as he pulled at the bodice of her red gown. Freeing a breast, he descended on it like a starving man, licking and sucking the tip, making her arch into him with a whimper she couldn’t contain.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked, her mind in a fog.
He didn’t answer. Instead he pushed a thick finger into her dry channel, and she whimpered as he freed his cock with the other hand. It sprang free of his breeches. Her hands went to push him away but, of their own volition, grabbed his black tunic and pulled him closer instead. With a growl, he captured her wrists and held them over her head as he lined himself up to sheath his rod inside her. She felt sudden wetness gathering at her entrance and made a sound of impatience, aching for him to fill the emptiness she suddenly felt inside her.
‘The Commander is waiting,’ a voice drawled.
The man on top of her stilled immediately, his breath ragged. He didn’t move for a moment, swearing softly as he tried to master himself. She felt him tuck her breast back into her dress and was thankful as she opened her eyes and saw they were surrounded by two massive Dark Brothers she’d never seen before and a handful of soldiers.
‘I’m sure he is.’ Kane’s voice sounded relaxed and slightly bored as he lifted himself away from her. As he stood, he bent down and grabbed her around the throat. His grip was gentle as he nudged her to her feet, but to the men watching it would look rough and uncaring, she realised. Her brow furrowed. What was the show for?
As soon as she was standing, he pushed her forcefully at one of the other Brothers with a chuckle. ‘Get her out of my sight.’
Stung, she looked up into the hard eyes of the Brother now holding her. He was watching her intently with an expression on his face that scared her. She suspected she’d be more than just afraid soon enough, and it made her tremble.
Chapter 19
Kane
‘And bind her hands,’ Kane continued. ‘She’s a slippery one.’
With a shrug, Quin tied Lana’s wrists behind her tightly enough that she made a sound of discomfort. Kane didn’t meet her eyes as she was led away from the river. He followed closely with Quin, feeling like he’d just made a terrible mistake. His mind raced. What had he done?
‘Not like you to let your lust get the better of you, Brother,’ Quin remarked next to him.
Kane forced a believable laugh. ‘You know how eager the new ones can be, thinking a good fuck will get them special treatment.’
Quin guffawed. ‘Aye, that’s true enough. She’ll understand her life here after a night in one of the pleasure tents.’
He saw Lana stiffen and steeled himself against her. If he could convince Greygor to let him and his Brothers keep her for themselves, then this would all be over soon. If not … He cursed himself, suddenly seeing everything he’d tried to deny with clarity. Sorin and Viktor cared for her more than he’d seen them care about anything or anyone. They’d never forgive him for this. Their unit would destroy itself from inside. Kane should have claimed her before, if not for himself, then for Sorin and Viktor. Now it was too late. She’d already been willing to drown herself rather than come here, and she didn’t even know what ‘here’ was yet.
They entered Greygor’s tent and Kane instinctively donned his mask of indolence. Greygor was a cunning bastard. If he knew Kane wanted something, he’d make him pay for it.
The soldier who held Lana pushed her forward and she landed on her knees in front of the Commander with a cry. The others left them.
Greygor looked down at her with a look of practised disgust. ‘This is your new slave? She looks half-drowned and smells like a latrine.’
Lana said nothing, just stared down at the floor. Greygor grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him. His eyes narrowed.
Kane gritted his teeth, reminding himself that for once violence wouldn’t help and neither would his gift. He couldn’t erase memories, so whatever he made Greygor do would be remembered later and there would be a reckoning – unless he made the older man kill himself in an accident of his own making. Kane discounted the thought almost as soon as it emerged. A dead Greygor meant Kane would become Commander, which would put an end to his unit’s plans. The revenge they lived for would never happen, and that would be worse than death.
Instead, he leant against Greygor’s desk and yawned behind his hand. ‘You summoned me. I assume it’s because you heard about our little acquisition. I understand your thinking, but as you can plainly tell, she’s just a slave girl. She’s pretty and she’ll warm your bed well enough, but look at her. She’s no spy from the Islands. Whatever Brother told you of her misled you.’
Greygor spared him hardly a look. ‘You know it was Uth. Don’t play your childish games with me, Kane. She’s clearly no spy. But you’re right, now I look at her she is pretty – a rare beauty in fact. You’ve brought me something that could be very useful at a difficult time, Kane, and I thank you.’
Three men stepped into the tent as if on command: Ryon, Torin and Bull. It took all of Kane’s strength not to let anything slip in his expression. Ryon and his unit had voiced their dissent on the Brothers’ imminent plunder of the Islands on more than one occasion. They’d been garnering support from others in the Camp, and Kane knew without a doubt that Lana would not be leaving with him. She would be ensuring their support and Greygor’s command.
‘Ah, meet your new masters, girl. After seeing you, I’d love to keep you for myself at least for a bit, but you have a higher purpose.’ Greygor addressed the newcomers. ‘I assume she meets with your approval?’
Ryon circled Lana slowly as the other two hung back. Her head was bowed again. He cut the ropes that bound her hands. ‘Get up, whore.’
