Page 9 of Their Cruel Love

“Stay still, Miss Dawkes,” Razor admonishes.

Have I even consented? No. Sort of. Maybe. I gnaw my lower lip.

With his hand still on my shoulder, the adjudicator moves behind me. He is somewhat taller than Razor and heavier built. That shirt is tight at the shoulders and those thighs…I adore a man with thick, muscular legs.

For a second, I close my eyes only to find myself swaying as the lack of sight unbalances me.

I cansmellhim—that male aroma that’s probably part sweat and part pheromones.

I can even hear him breathe.

This is too intimate.

He grunts as he smooths his hand down my spine, slowly, as if counting every vertebra, and I shudder out a breath.

“You are such a good girl, Miss Dawkes,” Razor purrs.

I dare not say anything for fear of betraying my arousal. I might not survive this party, in more ways than one.

I’m expecting Skull Face to lower himself and begin to measure me, but he moves away and stops there, still behind me.

When I try to catch Razor’s eye, he’s looking past me at this so-called adjudicator.

“Not within your job description?” he asks.

Something snaps within and frees me. “I can supply you with my measurements.” Razor’s focus swings back to me. “I’ll text them. I wouldn’t want to make your adjudicator…” I pause deliberately then drawl out the last word, “…unhappy.”

If I was indeed psychic, I’d give more credence to the menace that seems to suddenly radiate from the man in the mask, but I cannot even see him, and he makes no sound. I’m imagining, again.

The seconds drip past while Razor fixates on me then he nods. “You do that. Text it today.”

“Sure.”

I’m off the hook. For now.

Except I’m going to one of their kinky parties at a freaking castle in Spain, and how am I to behave once there? I’m afraid, but not due to what they might do to me. No, I have an inkling, or make that I have a huge premonition, that I’m going to find this fascinating.

Keep the goal in mind.I need to find out what happened to Milli.

Perhaps that isn’t her in my nightmare, but something evil is occurring, to someone, if not to Milli. That nightmare means something. I sense it with every atom of my being.

Funny, but it’s actually satisfying to finally have a goal in life.

5

Phoebe

When I return to the apartment, I do as he says and text my measurements, but not my inner leg ones. Who does that? It’s needed for a suit or pants, and I’ve never bothered with it. Then I wonder what will happen if I fail to supply it. Perhaps he’ll simply drop me from the party.

Sighing, I track down a tape measure and figure out my leg length then send it off.

My phone dings soon after, and I cannot help chuckling when I see the reply:GOOD GIRL.

The man is on a loop with that, but it’s cute, and I can understand the appeal of being told that,ifone were in a relationship.

Logicis one thing but…

I can feel it—inside, there is this weird little glow from having Razor appreciate me.

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