Page 81 of Hideaway

“So eager to barter away the sacred item your precious fucktoy was willing to give her life to protect? Is she aware of our little deal, or are you already keeping secrets from her?”

Cade glared at Jace; the evil bastard was fully aware of the shitty situation he’d forced him into. Doubtless, it was why Jace had asked for the text rather than extorting him for money. He knew that Cade’s betrayal would devastate Kara and put their already shaky relationship at risk. Which was why Cade had every intention of making sure she never found out. He already had Braxton tracing any mention of a first edition Chaucer being bought or sold in the hopes that Jace had already secured a buyer for the text. He’d also put the word out with his international network of contacts, asking for any information onThe Canterbury Talesfirst edition. Cade was a thief, for fuck’s sake; did Jace really think the book would be secure once he had it in hand? Cade had every intention of restoring the priceless text to his stubborn librarian, even if it meant relinquishing a large portion of his time and wealth to do so. For the sake of his very selfish cock, Cade hoped it wasbeforeKara discovered the book missing from his library and expressed her fury by revoking sex privileges. Repressing a cringe atthatunthinkable outcome, Cade made a mental note to commission a counterfeit Chaucer as soon as possible just to be safe.

Jace took Cade’s silence as affirmation that his scheme had been executed perfectly. “Well I do hope this little deception doesn’t get you into too much trouble when she finds out. Because they always do.”

“Let me worry about Kara. You worry about keeping your end of the bargain.”

“Of course. The book, if you please,”Jace requested amiably, outstretching his hand.

Cade reached into his bag to pull out the heavy, parchment wrapped book that had been the cause of so much trouble. And so much unexpected joy in the form of the delectable, fearsome woman waiting for him at home. Not one to simply take a man at his word, Jace tore open the brown paper and inspected the book critically. Satisfied that it was indeed the original text, Jace gave a nod of approval and thrust the book into his black bag without a modicum of caution or gentleness. Cade involuntarily cringed at the thought of how a certain librarian would react to seeing the fragile text treated so indelicately.

“Are you satisfied?”Cade asked impatiently, his tolerance for being within strangling distance of Kara’s rapist growing thinner by the minute, his hands itching to steal Jace’s last breaths. He couldn’t squelch the impulse to murder much longer, and it would be a great inconvenience for him to take Jace’s wretched life amongst hundreds of witnesses. But another couple minutes in Jace’s presence, and he would welcome the inconvenience with open arms.

“Very satisfied,”Jace answered with a smug smile.

“And your end of the deal?”

“You have my word that you’ll both be left in peace,”Jace answered as though he were the pinnacle of magnanimity.

Cade scoffed.“And what exactly is the word of a traitor worth?”

“I do admit, I’m getting the better end of the deal,”Jace said with a humorless laugh.“You’ll just have to trust me.”

“And Kara? You have your bloody book, so you’ll have no need to be in her vicinity ever again. Agreed?”Cade asked, his voice black and lethal.

“I give you my word as a gentleman, I will never again lay eyes upon Kara Caine,”Jace promised, holding up his right hand as though making a solemn oath.

“A gentleman?”Cade questioned incredulously.“NowthatI trust even less. Consider yourself forewarned, if you break your word, your eyes will be forfeit, along with the rest of you.”

“I would expect nothing less from a savage bastard such as yourself,”Jace quipped breezily.

“Then we’re done here. I never want to see your goddamn face again.”

“Likewise,”Jace answered in parting, issuing a small nod of goodbye.

Both men turned and walked away in separate directions. Both men had lied. Cade and Jace knew that unfinished business would draw them together once again. They knew that, eventually, only one of them would walk away. But both were resigned to bide their time until the opportune moment for vengeance and destruction presented itself.

Chapter Twenty One

AFTER their time in the Hideaway, life had somehow acquired a semblance of normalcy. Or rather, as normal as it could be under the circumstances. Technically, Kara was no longer a prisoner, but she continued to reside at Ashford Manor and spent her nights in Cade’s bed. She had tried to explain that the most logical decision would be for her to return to her Chicago residence, but she’d lost that argument in favor of hersafety. Sometimes she got a little sick of being protected. She’d finally returned to work at the university library, an argument shehadactually won, provided she allowed Declan to drive her to and from work. The kid stayed on campus the entire time, not necessarily spying on her, but not letting her out of his sight either. Cade’s control issues were something she hoped would soften in time.

Then again, he hadn’t exactly been anythingotherthan controlling in any aspect of their relationship the entire time she’d know him. It was as if his need to dominate was an inherent aspect of his very nature. And hell, maybe it was. She didn’t mind when it came to sex. Who was she kidding, she fucking loved his dominance in the bedroom, but she found it harder to sacrifice her independence when it didn’t come with an orgasm. And Cade wanted her submission every hour of the day.

In addition to agreeing to stay and explore whatever the fuck their twisted relationship was, Kara had suggested that they try things Cade’s way—which included making the Hideaway a regular part of their routine. She still couldn’t believe she had spent so much time innocently lounging in the library with a complete sex dungeon a few feet below. Cade had fought her on the idea, suggesting that she perhaps wasn’t ready for the extremity of his darker desires, but she told him to fuck off. If he could handle it, she could fucking handle it too. He finally acquiesced with a mischievous smile that suggested he would greatly enjoy proving her wrong.

And it was that salacious smile that haunted her when she entered the library and found a suspicious,bow adorned box resting in her favorite reading chair. She approached the package hesitantly as she remembered the last time she’d been ambushed by one of Cade’s revenges wrapped in ribbons. She read the inscription on the little black card.

Put this on and meet me in the Hideaway precisely at six o’clock. Do not be late.

-C

Cautiously, Karaundid the bow and lifted the top of the box with a cringe of apprehension. A gasp of mortification escaped her lips when she found a fuckingsexy schoolgirloutfit elegantly tucked between crisp layers of tissue paper as though it was a luxurious present,notgoddamn kink clothes. Blushing with embarrassment, she removed the items from the box and held them up for inspection. There was a very fucking short pleated red mini skirt, a matching tie, a cropped white shirt that boasted an astonishingtwobuttons to keep her tits barely covered, and plain white thigh-high stockings. The ensemble was a goddamn monstrosity, and that wasn’t even considering what it would look likeonher. She understood the irony—really, she did. She worked in academics, she was an avid learner, and she considered herself a perpetual student in all things. However, the schoolgirl outfit was taking itwaytoo fucking far. She had PhD’s for fucks sake—plural—and hated the idea of being boxed into an insulting, juvenile, academic stereotype for the sake of Cade’s twisted sex games.

Professional and feminist outrage aside, Kara could not deny the aroused quickening of her pulse and the damning wetness gathering between her thighs. Dignity be damned, she was going to wear the damn sex outfit. She had asked for Cade’s dominance, and, in return, she had promised to offer as much an effort at submission as she could. Having spent her entire life prioritizing independence, submission was not something that came naturally to her by any means.

Frantically, Kara glanced at the clock, remembering that hersirhad demanded that she not be late.

Shit.

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