Page 60 of Their Cruel Love

Marcus goes inside, and I hear him moving things before he, too, emerges bearing an eyeball and a quizzical expression. He samples the confectionary and swallows, pulls a disgusted face. “Sorry. Too sweet for me. Why do you have these?”

A chef has joined us in the corridor. “For the celebrations when you have your horror parties, of course, you fools. Now, get out of my kitchen.”

“We’re going.” Razor attaches the silver-colored leash to my collar, gives it a tug. “Come, little fucktoy.”

And that there is the worst thing he could have said and done. I’m instantly blushing hot. I don’t know why, but most likely it’s that the audience is not made up of guests, and this isn’t in the privacy of our room. We have a guard who smirks and looks like he should be twirling his tiny mustache, and an annoyed chef.

I slink out past them, following Razor with Marcus by my side. The pair of them are wearing actual tuxedos with ties. I side-eye them after we enter the main hallway. “Fancy.”

“Indeed.” Razor glances back at us then halts beside where an overnight bag has been left against the wall.

That looks like Marcus’ bag, and the man retrieves it. “I have something for you in here, Miss.”

Miss Fucktoy.That label may horrify me. It also says I’m theirs, and I guess I do like that implication.

The dining room is around the corner, but are we going there?

“You, on the other hand, will be non-fancy, especially considering you missed the parade. What should we have herwear, Marcus? Naked girl attire with collar and leash, or is there some other way that we can punish her for dragging us all over this place?”

“I’m thinking.” Marcus is leaning against the wall looking deliberately nonchalant. “The slave auction may have begun, but we could sell her to someone else.”

I shoot him an alarmed glare, hoping that he’s joking.

Razor has wound in the leash, making me move toward him.

His hand is at my mouth, his large thumb is pushing aside my lips and levering my teeth apart for access. In grouch mode, I resist. He smiles. With the chain wrapped over his fist, his dark-blue eye make-up, and his tattoos, it’s as if he’s some metal-encrusted Pict warrior zapped here from the past. All of this, paired with his formal attire and his dire concentration as he studies my face…inside, I’m melting.

I open my mouth. With my tongue, I lightly touch his thumb, leaving the tip wet. His gaze intensifies.

“Suck.” His gravel voice is underpinned with lust. The man clearly has a fetish for this, and I’ll bet he’s thinking of his cock while I’m doing it.

I suck on him, once, and I’m so tempted to keep going, but then I pull away. I’ve remembered why I am here. “Wait, please. Before we do this.”

“This?” He takes my throat in theVof his hand, squashing the collar to me, caressing above it as he speaks. The metal of the chain quietly chinks. “We know what you were trying to do. We had to enlist security with their comms so we could find you. And you found eyeballs made of frosting.”

“At least I tried. We aren’t doinganything. This shouldn’t be all fucking and fun.”

Marcus replies. “Fucking and fun is worthwhile.” And yethis demeanor is so somber I’m wondering at his mindset. Is he truly that unhappy with me?

“I know.” I lick my lips. “I do like this. I need this too. I do.” I’m babbling. I draw a deep breath, release it. “I vowed to her that I would enjoy myself.”Hermeaning Milli, and I guess they know this. “But I also need some seriousness. I need to do this, or guilt is going to tear me apart. I can’t desert her. We came here for a reason!” I hiss the last word.

Razor sighs and stands back.

And I look about me, suddenly aware I have been speaking louder than I should. No one else is here.

“We understand, don’t we Marcus?”

Ambling up behind me, he agrees with a grumbled, “Sure.”

“There might also be nothing here, Phoebe. You need to see that possibility.”

“I do.”

“Or there might be a murderer or three hiding here. Which means you are not to go off alone again. Marcus and I worried a crocodile might’ve grabbed you off the beach. Security was down there scanning the water until just now.”

“I’m sorry.” My vow to never ask permission for anything might be stupid in this place.

“Good.” Razor looks over my head to Marcus. “We should just go in as we are.”

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