Page 167 of Chandelier Sin
“You may leave. You made me proud. I forgive you.”
Aemon.
I ripped it into pieces.
I laid back, reaching beneath the satin sheet to cup myself and soothe the pang of my sex, I replayed the session with Atticus again and again like a favorite song on repeat, my body still thrumming.
This was my revenge.
My inner world remained untouchable.
Loving a man and being loved right in front of the one who believed he owned me was the ultimate flex of power.
Atticus had claimed me tonight.
He’d done the entire act so it appeared like a punishment and yet I’d experienced only blinding pleasure.
This was how the cage door opened…
For the first time in my life, I’d touched the edge of freedom.
Jake’s spectacular Mulholland fuck-pad was the setting for yet another one of his legendary parties. This grand glass-walled inspired house had been designed by Greyson himself.
Guests were mainly our friends from Chrysalis who had been invited to roam his luxury home for the night.
Five days ago, I’d risked my life for these guys, placing myself front and center at Pendulum in their innermost sanctum, where I’d made a grand entrance with two Dominatrices leading the way. Pretty wild even for my standards.
I’d taken the hit to savetheirlives—offering to kill our deal so they were left unscathed. All I had to do now was deliver the news to them.
Of course, I never had any intention of giving up on Pendulum.
I wasn’t the only one at the party who seemed distracted. For most of the evening Jake had appeared quietly harried over his fake relationship with Stella. She wasn’t here as far as I could see. Therewas nothing worse than falling for a woman who was wrong for you. We all knew that.
Which made my thoughts turn toward Eve, like she had the superpower to invade my mind even if I resisted.
I’d convinced myself there was only weakness in love.
Now, being with Eve was all I could think about. No relationship had ever offered more promise, and yet its complex nature dissuaded me.
Only my heart and mind didn’t seem to get that.
I looked for a distraction around the manicured garden with its impressive pool, jacuzzi and lounge area. We’d made many memories here over the years, in this home away from home on the weekends, where we gathered to spend precious time together.
Tonight, the barbecued food was delicious. No surprise there, as it was prepared by a Michelin chef. The wine and beer were exceptional, too. Only the best for one of Jake’s parties.
His idea of low key was on par with Cameron’s. The two were seemingly scheming together at the edge of the garden.
I wasn’t the only one feeling antsy. Greyson was also skittish, constantly checking his phone.
I’d felt uneasy since leaving Eve in that shadowy chamber after our session. Not seeing her was getting harder.
I recalled how my knight in shining armor act had caused a stir at Pendulum. Hell, I’d have walked to the other side of the earth to reach her. She should have left when I’d told her to, before they’d taken her down to the dungeon. The result was us fucking each other hard in front of an audience with the major risk of revealing our remarkable chemistry. Faking that she meant nothing to me was becoming an artform.
I planned on being back at Pendulum tomorrow so I could check in on her.
Quite simply, I was addicted to the woman.
At least while there I could watch over Eve. After that profoundsession we’d shared we should probably keep our distance moving forward so as not to arouse suspicion.
