Page 35 of Property of Mercy
“Understood,” he calls, moving down the hall.
Stepping into my room, I take in the fact there is a subtly feminine scent that is mixed with mine.Scanning the room for my little lamb and not seeing her on the bed, I take off my cut and hang it on the back of the door before toeing off my boots and shucking my shirt.Making my way across the room toward the bathroom, I pause a microsecond before pushing my way into the room.When the door opens, I’m hit with a blast of hot air from the shower.What I wasn’t expecting was the sound of sobbing.
Looking at the steamed glass, I feel a pain I still can’t figure out slam into my chest.My little lamb is sitting in the shower, letting the hot water beat down on her as she shatters.The monster inside me explodes, almost bringing me to my knees at the sight.I pull the glass door open, nearly taking it off the hinges.Still in my jeans, I fall to my knees beside her and tip her head up so I can see her face.
The eyes that I’ve come to truly enjoy alit with fire look broken and in complete despair, “What happened?”I know my voice is gruff and demanding with the anger currently coursing through me, but there is nothing I can do about it.
I watch her work through what she wants to say.
“Nothing and everything,” she finally decides on.
“We both know I don’t talk in riddles, so how about you cut that shit out,” I snap, the weight of her words making me itchy.
She shakes her head side-to-side and sighs.Done with the gentle hand, I run my hand into her hair, fisting it at the base and snapping her head back to look up at me.The tears continue to fall down her cheeks, but I watch as the emotions rush through her eyes until she settles on one.In the next instant, she launches herself at me, attacking my lips with hers.I grunt, then meet her assault with my own, gripping tighter on her hair.
She moves onto her knees, pressing her chest to mine, nearly knocking me on my ass.I slide my right hand around her side, pulling her tight against me.Her hands run up my arms and into my short hair to scrape my scalp as she whimpers.Running my tongue along the seam of her lips, demanding entrance.She gives it to me with abandon.I explore her mouth, learning every inch before pulling back and nipping her lip.My little lamb whines, fighting to hold me close.I use my hold on her hair to break the kiss.
“What is this, my Little Lamb?Why so needy?”I grumble, kissing across her jaw to her ear, where I nip it.
She sways into me and tilts her head to give me more access to my roaming lips, “I need you, Mercy.Give me tonight and then when the sun rises again, you can go back to trying to kill me.”She pulls back, cupping my face with her hands.“I don’t want to think.Make me feel nothing else but you.”
Searching her eyes for doubt or fear, I see nothing but want there.“Make sure you know what you’re asking for here.What I like and what I need isn’t sweet or nice.Are you sure you understand?”
“I would never assume a man like you could be anything but demanding.”She swallows hard before meeting my gaze head-on, being the most honest she’s been the entire time she’s been in this clubhouse.“I can’t say that I’m prepared or understand everything that’s about to happen here.What I will say is that I need to feel something other than fear and heartache.I need to know that there are more than those two emotions left inside of me.”
Slamming my mouth down on hers in a bruising kiss, I stand to my full height, taking her with me.Without a thought, she wraps her legs around my waist.Leaning back and breaking the kiss, she hisses when her back hits the cold tile walls.I reach over and turn the water off with my right hand as I run my left up over her hip, up her belly and over her breast, pinching each hardened nipple.She arches into my hold, bringing her arms up to wrap around my neck.Running my hand up her chest, I wrap my fingers around her long slender neck, applying pressure to the arteries that run up either side.
20
AINSLEY
The feel of Mercy’s finger wrapping around my throat is a like a balm to my soul.I let my mind go blank and just live in this moment with him.Allowing my eyes to slide closed, I shift my hips, trying to ease some of the throbbing.Mercy free grips my hip, stopping my movements and pulling a whimper from my lips.
“There will be none of that.You only get relief or pleasure when I allow it,” Mercy whispers in my ear.
“Mercy, don’t play with me,” I grind out through clinched teeth.
A sinister chuckle leaves his lips.“Oh my sweet innocent Little Lamb, that’s exactly what’s about to happen.I’m going to edge you repeatedly.While mixing in some pain and when I’m ready, and only then, will you get to fall over that edge.”
“Fuck you,” I snap in frustration as his words and domineering hold stoke my need higher.
“That will happen.But first I have some other things I’ve dreamed of doing.”He pulls me off the wall, never releasing his hold on my throat.
I try to release my legs from his waist, already done with this game.All I fucking wanted and needed was to forget and, like everything else, this man has turned it into a fucking game.I’m done being a player in everyone else’s game.
Out of nowhere, the sound of a hand connecting with bare skin fills the room before my brain can register the sting of my ass cheek.
“Stay exactly where you are,” Mercy growls.
“And if I don’t want to stay where I am?”I snap back just as I feel the counter on the back of my legs.
Mercy levels his icy gaze on me.“If you say stop, that’s exactly what happens.This all stops.I might be a fucking asshole merciless killer and have no true morals, but the one thing I’ve never done—and will never do—is force myself on a woman.So, let’s go over a few ground rules.”
Stunned by his words, I just give him a slight nod of my head.I only know the man that wants me dead.The man that would gladly snap my neck rather than look at me.I had assumed these men had no morals of any kind.Hearing him say there is a line he will not cross, I don’t have words.
“First, when I ask you a question, you will answer me with words.Understood?”
I give a quick nod.The hand on my throat tightens, cutting off the blood flow to my brain.
