Page 244 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“When did you get so introspective and smart?”

She smiled, embarrassed. “After I met a very smart man who forced me to face my fears.”

I finished the remnants of my drink and set the glass back on the counter. “I’d like to meet him.”

She laughed. Megan always had this shy little giggle, like she was embarrassed about laughing loudly so she tried to swallow it.

“And your vision?” she whispered.

“Not yet come to fruition.” I looked down at my hands, and said, “but she’s mine now, and that’s what matters. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

I heard a creak, and the fabric of my pant legs rustled slightly.She’s down at my feet, little brat. The hell is she doing down there?I didn’t move, waiting for the right time to reach down and grab her by the hair.

“Want me to put that food in for you?” Megan went to the computer.

“No... not yet. We’ll eat after I punish her. She’ll need food to get her blood sugar up after how hard she’s going to becrying.”

Alice let out a soft little groan at my words, and I took that as my cue to reach down and grab her by the hair. She tried to pull out of my grip, and she threw off my balance. I set my foot down to gain some extra traction–

And nearly fell out of my chair. I attempted to stand, tripping and nearly falling on the ground. I let go of her to catch myself on the bar and looked down at my feet.

Fucking hell, she’d knotted my laces together.

Alice was laying on the ground on her back, her hands gripping her belly, guffawing like a fool. Tears ran down her cheeks as she struggled to breathe at my embarrassment.

“Oh, holy balls, that was amazing. Did you guys see that? Please tell me someone got that on camera–oh fuck!”

I’d kicked my shoes off during her giggle rampage, and now had her hands behind her back and one hand around her throat.

Thank you, Alice.This girl had the key to the Beast’s cage, and she just kept letting him out.

I had her on the ground, one hand in her hair, the other around her throat, and I growled into her ear. “By the time I’m done with you, you’re going to wish you had never met me.”

She moaned, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip and looking back at me.

I hauled her over to the Saint Andrew’s cross in the corner of the room. I was distantly aware that most of the conversation around us had dropped to hushed whispers, and most eyes had turned to us.

Little brat wants to put on a show? Fine. Let’s put on a fucking show.With my hands on her body and my blood roaring in my ears, everything else around us faded away, and it was just me and her. Her, and her big magic eyes, the bush on her cheeks, the faint sprinkling of freckles, the way her tongue sat right at the edge of her mouth, the little metal ball in her tongue flashing in the light.

I plopped her on the floor by the cross and pinned her down by the hair, and then grabbed her by the ankles. Using my body to keep her pressed against the cross, I buckled her into the restraints on the cross upside down. She was so disoriented and confused, she didn’t even fight me.

I stepped back and looked at her, admiring my work. I’d had to use some extra rope to secure her ankles so she wouldn’t have too much pressure or tension on them, but she was firmly in place upside down, her legs spread, her leather mini skirt starting to slide slightly. It would stay on enough to keep her covered, but I’d still have full access to her without flashing anyone.

Her shirt, though... that had to go. I grinned at her and extracted the knife I always carried in my back pocket, clasped the hem of her shirt, and tore it right down the middle. Her eyes went wide, and she whimpered as the shirt hung off her shoulders, exposing her pretty red lacy bra she’d worn today.

“Rule one.”

“I will address Sir with respect,” she mumbled.

“Say it again, louder, so everyone knowswhat the fuck you did.”

She repeated the rule, her voice shaking as she attempted to speak louder. But I was learning that when I went hard on Alice, she got soft, subby, and quiet.

Just the way I like you.

Her face was starting to turn pink from being upside down, and she whimpered as I drew out the toys I’d chosen to tease her with today.

“Oh, no...”

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