Page 50 of Blood Ties
But it’ll be easier if I draw a physical line for myself as well.
Rule number two: no orgasms.
For me only, obviously. It shouldn’t be hard, right? He doesn’t know what he’s doing. I’ll focus on his pleasure and his pleasure only. I don’t need all of those good brain chemicals getting involved and confusing me if he gets me off.
Rule number three: focus on the goal.
And my goal is the same as it always been — to escape. But more than that, tosurvive, no matter what it takes.
If —when, I tell myself fiercely — when I get out of these chains someday, if Kai stands between me and my exit, I can’t hesitate. Not even for a second. I need to be exactly as ruthless as his family has been to me. If Kai has to die in order for me to live, then I will shove a knife straight through his ribs.
Kai is a means to an end. Nothing more.
But as the basement door creaks open, I’m reminded that Kai isn’t the only part of my plan that could go wrong. From the first thud of a boot on the step, I know Kai isn’t the one coming down tonight.
I shrink back against the wall, hugging my knees to my chest, as Knox descends the staircase.
“Miss me?” he asks.
I stare down at the mattress in silence.
“Nah, I guess not,” he says. “You’ve been plenty busy with Kai, huh?”
My entire body prickles with the awareness of him as he stalks closer. My heart beats faster, my breath quickening. But I refuse to show my fear. I know it only makes this more enjoyable for him.
“You think I don’t see what you’re doing? I’m not stupid enough to fall for it... but you know that. That’s why you’re aiming for my little brother, huh? Getting him all wrapped around your finger?” He smirks. “Or should I say getting your fingers all wrapped around him?” He makes a jerk-off motion with his hand.
I flush despite myself. Not because of the lewdness, but because it’s weirdly on-the-mark. Does he know? Does Kai tell him about us?
The thought leaves me feeling embarrassed. Betrayed. I assumed Kai didn’t get along well with his brother. But I guess I’ve assumed a lot of things.
At the end of the day, I’ve only seen glimpses of Kai during our encounters in the basement. I don’t know what happens outside of it.
“But that’s fine. You wanna save the good shit for me, I’m all for it.”
Knox drops down to one knee on the edge of the mattress. My spine presses into the wall as I try to back away, but I’m cornered. Chained.
Tears prick my eyes. There’s nothing I can do, nowhere I can go. No matter how much I scream and fight, I can’t get away. It probably only makes it better for him.
Thinking back, itdefinitelymakes it better for him. Knox gave me an opportunity to run just so he could chase me. There’s a grin on his face now as he crawls over the mattress toward me.
He likes the chase. The fight. So maybe... I won’t give him one.
I let my arms fall slack at my sides. Let the tension drain from my body. When he grabs my ankle and pulls me toward him, I go fully limp, letting him drag me across the sheets.
Knox pauses. “What? Giving up already?” He slides his hand up the inside of my leg, caressing my thigh. I stare into space.
His hand moves further up, palming me possessively between the legs.
“Ready to finally admit you like it?” he asks, his voice rough.
Still, I don’t move. Don’t speak. He shoves a hand under my shirt and pinches my nipple until it hurts, but I tamp my response down to the smallest wince.
I let him manhandle me, yanking my shorts and underwear down and shoving my legs apart to expose my body to him. He seems faintly puzzled — and more than a little frustrated. I was right. This is making it less fun for him.
“Not bored of me already?” he asks. “But... eh, maybe you’re right. We gotta up the stakes a little.” He shifts back, releasing me, and looks around the basement. “Mmm... let’s see...” Knox’s eyes land on my backpack.
I shouldn’t react. I shouldn’t do anything. But the backpack is all I have left. It holds my only possessions, the only things that are stillminenow that even my body is beyond my control. My only reminders that a world exists outside of the basement.
