Page 63 of Blood and Thorns
“To sit still and look pretty,” she muttered, and I smirked beneath my mask at the way she straightened her spine. It made my cock ache, pressing against the fabric of trousers.
If I didn’t recognise that we were close to the docks, Iwould’ve seen if I could make my new favourite doll come again. Her moans were addictive, as was the way her face twisted when she came as if she was in pain.
“Good girl,” I whispered, amused with how her breath hitched.
I’d chosen her dress, Elena fitting it to her so it was slick to her body, black satin with a slit indecently high on the right side. The black matched her choker, the only colour being the red rose pendant.
She looked stunning, especially with my fingers marking her delicate skin.
“Keep your ears open and your lips sealed,” I added.
She looked over her shoulder at me, meeting my gaze without fear of repercussions. That fire was there, glittering embers that reminded me she wasn’t as innocent as she projected.
Mrs Potter had warned me that Arabella was hoarding some of my silverware underneath her bed, a few expensive pieces from the dining room set. I was also certain one of my watches had mysteriously vanished, too. I’d decided to not say a word, even telling the maids to leave them be. I’d allow her to collect the expensive trinkets and let her believe she was clever, preparing for some grand escape.
Iwantedher to think she had the upper hand.
Breaking her wasn’t the goal.
Not yet, at least. I wanted her hope alive, just enough to keep her fighting. Just enough to make it fun when she realised I was always in control.
“Hmm,” she hummed as I collared the front of her throat gently, my thumb brushing along her jawline. Those embers burned hotter, glittering with just a touch of arousal.
That’s right, she liked it when I dominated her, using her hair as an anchor so I could thrust faster, deeper intothat mouth. My eyes traced her lips, and they parted like an invitation. So instead, I tightened my fingers, warning her.
“I told you to seal those lips.”
She laughed, an almost surprised sound that shot straight to my cock. Releasing my grip, I used my forearm to keep her where she was as we pulled up outside the restaurant just at the edge of the docks.
Langdon opened my door, having been following in another car along with Caden, a pale eyebrow raising when he noticed my lap. “Do I want to ask?” he signed before smirking. Shaking his head, he held out his hand, and Arabella hesitated before taking it, allowing him to help her out of the car.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her fingers moving clumsily to sign. Langdon turned towards me, that earlier smile slipping. Seemed she’d been busy in my absence.
Arabella looked between us, sensing the tension. Dropping her hands she looked over at Caden, who joined us on my other side. A gun was on his hip, visible on the belt. Langdon’s was in his palm, where it would remain for the duration while mine was tucked in a holster beneath my arm.
I wasn’t a fan of guns; they were too impersonal. Too fast. I much preferred my fists.
James ‘Hook’ Holland stood at the entrance to his restaurant, his dark hair knotted on the top of his head. “Beast,” he greeted, holding out his hand, which he quickly dropped when I didn’t move.
Hook’s smile strained, his black circled eyes lingering on the guns before finally meeting my gaze and then my mask.
“And here I thought we were catching up like old friends.” He turned his back, walking inside the three Michelin star seafood restaurant with the expectation that we would follow.
Caden went first, with Langdon coming up behind. There was a noticeable hush when I stepped inside, only breaking once we followed Hook into the private room in the back. He was flagged by his own men, five in total, all standing along the back wall with their own weapons on display.
A table had been set up for two, which he quickly clicked his fingers for another chair.
Waiting until Hook sat, I looked towards Arabella, who scooted into the corner seat. Caden and Langdon immediately took up their positions, protecting our backs.
“I’d heard you’d paraded around a pet, but I thought you’d just added to your collection of spiders. She’s pretty.” Hook clearly wasn’t one of the smartest men as he leaned towards Arabella. “Tell me about yourself, darling,” he asked her, but when she remained silent, he clicked his tongue. “Cold, that one. I hope she’s warmer between the sheets than that glare she’s giving me. Otherwise, she might freeze your cock off.”
“Careful,” I warned, but Hook simply laughed.
“So, your man with the annoying watch has filled me in,” he began, pouring us both a glass of rum. “You know I have other contracts, right? I’m not at liberty to share confidential information on my other clients, the same way I don’t share yours.”
“I’ve come to believe my product’s been tampered with.” The rum burned down my throat, the bottle clearly from Hook’s personal collection.
Hook relaxed back in his chair with a confident smirk. “Not by us.”
