Page 107 of House of Cards
He fist bumps my shoulder, and my entire body tenses as I struggle not to punch him in the fucking face.
“Now come on. Be a good boy and share your toys. If you don’t, Myles might do something drastic.”
I cross my arms. “Define ‘drastic.’”
“Drastic, like sending your ass over the pond to handle his other brothels.” Rich winces. “We both know how that went last time.”
Before I can respond, he’s already talking again.
“Myles is getting impatient. Says she’s gotta start earning her keep, or he’s gonna boot her. So what’s it gonna be?” He taps his finger against my chest for emphasis.
I grab his finger, twisting sharply,barelystopping before I break it. “Don’t touch me. And don’t you fucking dare touch her.”
He tugs himself free, glaring at me as he shakes his hand. “Jesus. If you’re going to be so precious about who touches her, just use her as a fucking test dummy. That waiting list is longer than my arm.”
My jaw tightens. “I’ll think about it.”
He steps back, pupils dilated despite the dim hallway lighting. “Think fast. Myles is already in a pissy mood. Wouldn’t want him getting angry.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
I watch him strut away at a brisk pace. Did he start a new bender, or is he still on the last one? Might be time to send him to rehab again.
When I return to the room, Zoey has abandoned her cake and is standing by the table, arms wrapped around herself.
I look at her, at the chocolate frosting still on her lip, at the fear she’s trying so hard to hide. Suddenly, all I want to do isscoop her up, tell her everything’s going to be okay, and clean that mouth of hers with mine.
Fucking dangerous thoughts to have when I know what’s coming next for my bratty little sub. If anything, I need to be even less protective of her.
More ruthless.
For her sake, and for mine.
“What’s a training dummy?” she asks, voice quiet.
I snort, shaking my head. “It’s better than the alternative.”
Smith
“Stop the press,” Zoey says with a mock gasp. “You’re letting me wearunderwearthis time?” She snaps the elastic of her tiny black thong against her hip and winces. “Ow.”
“You should be grateful.” I’m not just referring to the underwear. I held off Myles for another three days before he started calling me ‘old chap’. Pushing him further would have ended in disaster.
I grab her ankle and slide her foot closer to the bottom right prong of the X-cross so I can latch it in place with the cuff.
She wrinkles her nose at me. “Yourkindnessusually comes at a price.” When I say nothing, she waggles her eyebrows at me. “Bathtub ring a bell? Bubbles, lavender, touch ofnon-erotic asphyxiation?”
“Keep mouthing off, and you’ll be doing this naked.”
“Doing what, exactly?”
I yank the buckle into place and stare up at Zoey from where I’m crouching. It takes considerable effort to keep my eyes focused on her face when her ass is a mere inch or two from my mouth.
All I want to do is mark it with my teeth. Hard enough to draw blood.
We’re in the same room she first met Howler.
Severely white, ostentatiously empty apart from the X-cross, a couch, and a mattress upholstered in white leather.
Hurriedly standing, I grab her arm and lift it to the top right cuff. “Training.”
