I put the mug on the counter. Maybe someone would come and pick it up, and then I wouldn’t feel like I wasted food.
“I’m sorry,” Caleb said.
“No, you’re not. You got what you wanted.”
I didn’t linger to talk to him more, there was no point. I wasn’t going to pretend any of this was okay. They made their deal. I was part of it, even though I didn’t want to be. Just because Earl hadn’t raped me, or taken what he wanted and tossed me aside, didn’t make any of this right. I was so angry all of a sudden. Earl acted like a gentleman now, but what if he got bored? Once he’d had his fill of me, taken everything he could, and tossed me aside, what was I supposed to do then? I didn’t have the first clue what to do. If he was being honest, then I was going to be rich for the time I’d spent with him, but no matter how he dressed it up, I’d still feel like a whore if I would get rich off my virginity.
Walking out of the kitchen, I made my way back to the bedroom. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. All I wanted was to be alone in my bedroom, or the guest bedroom. It wasn’t mine. I wasn’t staying here. It didn’t belong to me.
The moment I entered, I saw Earl sitting on the bed, fingertips pressed together.
“Where were you?” he asked.
I was surprised he didn’t have all of my moves monitored. “In the kitchen.”
“You’re pissed off.”
I didn’t answer him. I slipped off my shoes because I didn’t like walking around barefoot, and moved toward the head of the bed. Earl captured my hand before I could stop him, pulling me toward his body. The moment he touched me, I felt the swirling, intense need spiral within my body. This was what scared me.
This man wasn’t mine.
He was a beast, not a monster, and he was used to getting what he wanted. He traded in human flesh, while I had no choice but to deal with him now. I didn’t just give in to him. I fought him, tugging on my wrist like my life depended on it. To a point, my heart did. I was angry when I should have been happy.
Emily was safe. So long as I kept with the bargain I made with this bastard, she and all of her men will be safe. I couldn’t tell her this. I had to keep it to myself.
Earl wasn’t happy with my fighting. Before long, he was up on his feet, and he was so much taller than me. All it took was a few moves, and he had me pinned to the bed, my arms spread out above me. I tried to buck him off, bite him, anything. I wasn’t screaming though. Even as I appeared to be losing my mind, I continued to have a sane part that told me to keep quiet. The moment I made a sound, they could all come running.
Did I want Earl dead?
I didn’t know.
Releasing a huff, I tried again to throw him off me, but I somehow managed to get his cock flush against me. I felt how hard he was. Part of me wanted to fight, to tell him to fuck off, to scream, and to bring all kinds of hell down on his ass, but instead, I just lay there. Taking a deep breath, I ignored the woman inside me begging for me to fight more. Tears filled my eyes.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“This is not nothing, Ashley. Tell me.”
“No! We’re not in the company of others. I don’t have to be on my best behavior. I won’t tell you just because you demand it. Or are you going to grab a guard and force him to come in here so I don’t have a choice? Spank me again. Tell me, Earl, what exactly are you going to do?”
He slammed his lips down on mine, kissing me. This wasn’t a gentle kiss. He wasn’t being nice or kind. This was a ravishment. He was punishing and rewarding me at the same time. Our teeth clashed together and caused a slight pain, but I didn’t care. This wasn’t supposed to be beautiful. He wasn’t my lover. He was my owner. I was nothing more than his property. No, a piece of flesh between my legs belonged to him. I was the one who was attached to it. There was nothing loving about this. No happiness. We weren’t in love.
His fingers sank into my hair, and I couldn’t contain my gasp as he gripped the length and tugged it back, exposing my neck. The feel of his lips brushing across my skin was almost too much for me to bear, but when he got to the curve of my breast, a moan escaped my lips. Especially as he released the strap of my shirt. I didn’t stop him as he dragged it down my arm, exposing my breast to him. He kissed down to my nipple, his tongue circling the bud, and waves of pleasure rushed through my body.
Closing my eyes, I released a little moan. The tips of his fingers worked from my knee and up the inside of my thigh until he cupped my pussy.
“This is all mine,” he said.
I knew. The instant he said the words, I felt like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over my head, and I tensed up.
Before he got a chance to speak, his cell phone went off, and whatever had been happening between us stopped.
****
Earl
Business always came first.
Ever since Ashley froze up on me, I hadn’t been able to get her alone. I’d finished all of my dealings with the Monsters, we’d done what was needed, and then we left. I had no choice but to leave her on the yacht while I took care of some problems with several shipments.
I came back to the yacht to find Ashley had spent most of her time in the bedroom. She rarely ate. My men were ordered to keep an eye on her, and the women who worked for me had also reported her complete lack of interest.
Arriving at my private island, I expected her to be happy. That was two days ago. Staring out at the ocean, I knew she was watching me. The first few nights, I’d been locked away, completing much-needed work, but now, I was only needed for necessities. Ashley had me all to herself.
I swiped my hand across my face, wondering what the hell happened back in Crude Hill. I didn’t like how cold Ashley had become.
My men were stationed on the island, and several of the women came with me so they could clean any mess we made. They weren’t to be seen unless I demanded it.
I rarely came to this island. This was a tranquil place, full of peace and quiet I rarely felt. My life didn’t allow me to disconnect from the world. My enemies were many, and more often than not, they tried to take what belonged to me. Turning on my heel, I found Ashley in the doorway, staring at me. She wore a pure-white dress. The straps were thin, but I saw she wore a bra. The light spilled across the sand, and she tilted her head back to look at it.
My island was beautiful.
Most women would be on their knees begging for me to do whatever the hell I wanted to them. Not Ashley. She didn’t even seem impressed.
Watching her, I saw the sadness in her eyes until finally, she turned away from me and walked back into the house, pissing me the fuck off.
I didn’t linger at the beach.
I stormed toward the house, slamming the door open, and I found her in the kitchen. She was pouring herself a cup of coffee, and that action alone was enough to send my anger over the edge.
Grabbing the cup from her, I threw it with much-needed force across the room. “What the fuck is going on?”
I caught the flinch before she stepped away. There was no way I was going to let her get far. I was angry, yes, and I knew what I wanted. I grabbed her arm and pulled her close to me.
“Get off me,” she said.
Unlike on the bed, she didn’t fight me. She glared. I felt the weight of her look right down to my fucking toes.