Aleisha sucks in a deep breath, bracing herself for the worst. Armand usually has his way with her, and he isn’t the most gentle. Granted, I’m not always gentle, either, but Armand nearly starves himself before succumbing. He claims it to be a fast of sorts, one which aids him in practicing restraint.
I call bullshit on that.
Deprivation only makes us feral.
The man is simply still coping with what he had to become in order to live another day. Or at least he thinks he’s coping. I’ve tried to help him, but Armand is a stubborn creature of habit. He’ll come around eventually. For now, I just let him do his thing.
Can’t help those who don’t want to be helped.
Baring my fangs, I sink them into Aleisha’s neck, softly, ever so slowly. My hands work her body in tandem, too—one manipulating a rigid nipple, the other caressing her slick, needy pussy. There isn’t a single scream to follow, either, only ripples of pleasure that fall from her lips.
Melding with the equally erotic sounds across the room.
This is why they’re puppets; they get off on the pain. Trade their lifeline and their freedom for hedonism and riches. For some, it’s even a new beginning, a chance at a new life where nobody knows who they are or what sins they’ve committed.
The warm, metallic bite of Aleisha’s blood on my tongue is like salve on a wound.
Soothing.
Fulfilling.
Groaning, I latch on harder, dig in deeper as the trickle gains speed. There’s a brief whimper that catches in her throat, but it’s just that—brief. The second I slip two fingers inside her, she falls lax once more and assists me in bringing her over the edge.
It’s euphoric.
Ahem.
A voice clears beside us suddenly. Through my peripherals, I find Cassius to my right, propped up against the threshold with crystal tumbler in hand. That dark stare of his remains steady as he takes a generous sip, a silver wisp falling over one eye. “Is the spectacle really necessary?” he queries.
Doesn’t surprise me.
Cassius is a very private man.
He doesn’t indulge in the same ways we do.
Easing off my dinner, I grab the ruby throw blanket draped beside me and hand it to Aleisha as I turn my attention on him. “A spectacle would require an audience. I’m not sure what exactly you’re seeing, but I surely don’t see one.”
“You know what I mean.” There isn’t a lick of amusement in his tone.
But there is in mine.
I hum and recline in my spot with Aleisha still in my lap. “Yes, well, given their own spectacle, I highly doubt they’re paying much attention to what’s happening over here.”
Cassius’ lips settle in a firm line. He doesn’t appreciate my mirrored and very much sarcastic retort, clearly.
Not that he does at any other point in time.
As an elder of sorts, someone much older and wiser than me—yes, I can see how he’d expect more respect on my part.
But respect is earned, as is trust...and he lost both many moons ago.
“Is that all you wanted to say or is there something I can do for you?” I question as he drains what remains in his glass.
“The girl is hungry,” he replies dryly.
The girl, as in Tigerlily.
“And you’re telling me this because…” I motion for him to continue which only narrows his eyes all the more.
“Because she’s yours.”
Chuckling darkly, I brush Aleisha’s dark tresses out of the way, eager to finish what we started. Tigerlily might be irrelevant at the moment, but she can’t heal if I don’t attend to her needs. “I suppose you’re right to some extent. Let Dragan know, then. He’s usually the one who fixes up their meals.”
“He isn’t here, hence why I’m addressing it with you,” Cassius growls.
My eyes cut back to his formidable form. “Then find someone, anyone, Daddy Dearest—and issue it as Captain’s orders.”
♫ Superficial Love - Ruth B. ♫
Peter’s rambling a mile per minute.
Through the haziness clouding my mind and the way my vision has tunneled on the distant view of the forest, though, I can’t hear a single word he’s saying.
All I can focus on is Hook.
Our run-in was hours ago, but my mind won’t leave it be. What in God’s name was that? How he cornered me, the things he said to me, how he looked at me. How he smelled.
Another shiver works its way down my spine. I can’t recall a time I’ve felt so exhilarated yet so vulnerable and anxious all in the same hand. My stomach whirls just thinking about it.
I want to feel that again...
“Tinks, are you even listening to me?” Peter sounds annoyed now. A tad petulant, too, if I’m being honest.
“I zoned out.” I turn back toward him with a shake of my head.
His lips purse a beat. “I can see that. What’s going on?”
The infamous Captain Hook nearly pinned me to a tree whilst looking at me like he wanted to devour me whole.
I don’t tell him this, obviously. He’d surely plot some way to raise the Captain’s hackles and they don’t get on enough as it is for all that. So I shrug instead, in attempt to appear nonchalant as I answer evenly. “Just imagining my mother’s mounting frustration. I can feel it from here.”
Not a complete lie.
“Because of me?” he hedges.
“No. She informed me we’re due for dinner with my father tonight, but I stormed out and slammed the door on her mid-sentence. I’m not having dinner with him.”
Peter fidgets just slightly at the growl billowing within my statement and arches a brow. “Why not? He’s your dad, T.”
“Yeah, and? He’s also Lord of the Faes. Someone who, not only tolerates their atrocities, but encourages them, as well. They’re a vile species, Peter, and I want nothing to do with them.”
“How can you say that? You are—”
“Don’t.” I lift a hand in disgust, my lip curling in a sneer. “Just don’t. These markings are a curse, one I wish I could rid myself of. Unfortunately for me, I can’t change who I am. I can, however, always strive to be better.”
“You are better.” He scoots closer to me on the dock. His arm falls around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. “A million times better.”
“You’re supposed to say I’m the best.”
Peter chuckles with a little shake to his head. “You’re sassy is what you are.”
I giggle. “You say it like you just figured that out.”
“Oh no, I’ve known...since you were a kid.” He chuckles again. “Just never ceases to amaze me, that’s all.”
“And why is that?”
“I don’t know. It’s cute and, looking at you, unexpected.”
Unexpected?
My head jerks back, brows furrowed curiously. “Why unexpected?”
“‘Cause you ooze innocence, Tinks. Anyone who doesn’t know you would think you’re an angel.”
“I don’t know about all that.”
I mean, c’mon. Me? An angel?
“Trust me. I’m not the only one who’d agree with that.”