“You’re wet…without me having to slip elixir down your throat.” His nose ran along my neck, his teeth grazing sensitive skin. “I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment or a sign that we’re both completely fucked.”
I moaned as he continued to thrust into me. His forehead landed on my collarbone as his spine bowed. “Why did you let me hurt you? Why put yourself at my mercy?” His body curled close as if he struggled to stand.
My breath caught as he thrust deeper. My moan turned into a groan of discomfort. “Because I wanted you to.”
His head shot up, his brows tugging low. “Why?”
“Why?” I curled my nose. He wanted to know why when his hand was between my legs? Didn’t he know any answer I gave him would be scrambled? I might lie and say I drugged him so he wouldn’t sell me. Or I might tell the truth and say I wanted him, regardless of our situation. I might even profess insanity and spout nonsense about feeling something unexplainable…something I didn’t feel with Scott or the other partners of my past.
I might even ask that same question, fishing for his feelings, intent on dragging them from the sea of his eyes and stranding them on the shore so I knew, knew, that I wasn’t the only one struggling.
“Why are you special?” His voice resembled crushed up diamonds, a priceless dust that scratched and scarred. “Who are you, Eleanor Grace?” He nuzzled me, his fingers stroking me, claiming. “Why are you different from all the fucking rest?”
I cried out as his touch grew aggressive, halting his sudden desperation for answers I couldn’t give him, filling his eyes with self-loathing.
My insides smarted, wanting him to keep pleasuring me but also needing reprieve from being used.
He noticed, his fingers freezing inside me. “You’re still sore.”
Not a question. An observation of what he’d done to me. There wasn’t any pride on his face. No smugness that my body still wore the marks of his takeover. Instead, there was regret and a healthy dose of sincerity that I didn’t expect.
His fingers withdrew, slowly, reluctantly.
Moving my underwear back into place, he pulled away his hand, letting my skirts fall around my thighs. Rubbing my moisture into the soft material, he murmured, “If you weren’t in pain and I’d fully recovered, I’d be inside you right now. I honestly don’t know how I’m not.” His stare locked on my mouth. “But I’ve already caused you enough misery…I won’t expect you to fuck me again so soon.”
Part of me wanted to nod in gratefulness, the other growled with frustration and stomped her foot. He was being a gentleman now? After all the other explicit, exquisite moments between us?
Dropping his hand from my hair, he wiped his mouth and shook his head. Removing his hips from mine, he backed up until we stood on almost opposite sides of the orchid-lined path.
His chest rose and fell as shadows cast over his gaze. Finally, he nodded as if he’d come to terms with something he’d been deliberating. “You win, Jinx.”
I blinked, unable to move just yet. “Win? What did I win?”
He shrugged. “I’ll do what you ask.”
My forehead furrowed, rushing over my past requests.
The girls.
Their freedom.
I froze. “You’re…letting them go?”
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he turned, ready to leave. “Tomorrow, I’ll send them home. I’ll nullify our contract. I’ll accept a loss on my investments. I’ll do what you ask, all because the alternative is letting you go…and we both know I can’t do that.”
Chapter Fourteen
OUT OF THREE OPTIONS, I chose the one I least wanted to do.
Option one, take Eleanor back to my villa, have a swim in Nirvana, fuck her until we both fell asleep.
Option two, go to Eleanor’s villa, have a swim in the sea, fuck her until we both fell asleep.
Option three, keep my promise to a goddess who had me by the goddamn balls and announce the retirement of three immortals.
Striding through the darkness, I noticed Nathan Fisher lurking by a tiki torch, smoking a cigar and sipping a tumbler of liquor.
He nodded politely. “Mr. Sinclair, honour to see you again.” His arm spread in welcome.
I had no patience for small talk.
The man was leaving tomorrow, after an eventful night with Jupiter and his twisted fantasy of The Little Mermaid, and I had nothing to say to him. I’d taken his money. Now, I wanted him gone.
Just like Jupiter would be gone.
Little did anyone predict he would be her last guest.
“Evening.” I touched my temple as I continued past, not slowing and pretending I didn’t see his subtle invitation for me to stop and shoot the shit.
My bare feet dug into the sand, propelling me away from the civilised part of my island and toward the villa housing the torture equipment of my old labs. Calico had remained in the hospital ward with Dr Campbell as watchdog. He believed her injuries were worthy of overnight observation. However, the other two would’ve grown very familiar with each other in Ace’s old cage.
Bet the chimpanzee was watching from his grave, loving the cruel twist of fate that put humans in the trap that he’d called home for so long.
Pulling the key from my pocket, I unlocked the villa and strode in. Closing the door behind me, the rustle of bodies rousing from depression pricked my ears.
Moonlight shone through the windows, glinting off the many bars and cages, twinkling like their own morbid stars.
“Sullivan…oh, thank God.” Jupiter struggled to her feet, using Neptune’s knee as support. “Thank you for not leaving us in here all night. We’ve learned our lesson.” Her hands wrapped around the metal, her face optimistic despite the bruises of my fingers around her throat.
Neptune wasn’t so trusting. She stayed where she was, the wire floor biting into her blue bikini-covered ass. I kept her stare as I murmured, “I’m not here to let you out.”
Neptune nodded glumly, twisting to look away from me. To stare at the wispy silver clouds crossing the horizon.
Jupiter rattled the bars. “What? But…you have to. This cage isn’t big enough for two.”
“It’s better than a coffin, don’t you agree?” I smiled icily. “Because that was the first alternative, until Cal reminded me that wasted merchandise is wasted money.”
She winced, her cheeks pinking. “What do you intend to do with us then? Keep us in here forever?”
I strode around the cage, forcing Jupiter to follow me and Neptune to snag miserable glances in my direction. “Not forever…just until dawn.”
“Dawn?” Neptune whispered brokenly. “What happens at dawn?” She wrung her hands. “Are you…are you going to finish what you started?”
I closed the distance in one angry stride. My temper flared, remembering the scene Skittles had dragged me to. The painful witness of Eleanor being strangled by a scarf.
Both girls jumped as I snarled, “I would like to. I’m not going to lie.”
Jupiter made a feral noise in her chest. “What are you waiting for then? Just get it over with.”
I narrowed my gaze on her. She was a beautiful woman, but envy had pinched her lips and entrapment had sunken her cheeks. Her original price hadn’t been as much as Eleanor’s. I’d paid three-hundred-and-fifty thousand for her. At twenty-four, she’d never quite lost her hatred for me…even while professing her undying love.