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The room pitched in darkness, with only the dim glow from the candelabra that cast shadows over the bed. I could see my reflection in the oval mirror inlaid in the center of the steel headboard with its bendy black rungs. And I could feel the rope brush against my skin as I squirmed in the binds that Tessa had created—my body lay twisted and contorted. I could almost fall asleep like this; my long silver hair pulled tight, my mouth gagged, because I’d been bound like this in Tessa Green’s dungeon on the third floor of the Hellfire Club many times before.
I would fall asleep if not for the wetness pooled between my thighs. Tessa had tied me up, teased me, and left me in a state of sexual frustration. I didn’t really want her—she was only a substitute for Victoria. And I’ll never have her.
Victoria...
The thought of her willowy form and short spikey hair, her delicate features, her pale pink lips, and her angular chin that I wanted to dot kisses across made my thighs tingle. But Victoria would never have me, or anyone. She abstained from sex and blood, a vampire who fed only on chi.
There would be no point in telling her how I felt, what I wanted. What I wanted to do to her. Even if she fed like the others, it wouldn’t matter anyway. Most vampires didn’t mix with the faerie folk, not with long-standing grudges that lasted as long as their immortality.
The door to the dungeon squeaked open and Daeveena entered unexpectedly. She stopped at the foot of the bed, smirking at me.
“Well, well, little Luna. My dear little sister is always tied up with the wrong crowd. Victoria told me I would find you here.”
Half-sister. If not for our father’s mistakes, I’d never have to serve in his place. And no doubt Victoria knows exactly what I’m doing if she knows where I am. She’ll mock me for my weakness, for needing to be touched, for craving pleasure.
Daeveena removed the ball gag from my mouth.
I directed a glare at my half-demon, half-faerie, fucking half-sister. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to say good-bye.”
“You’re leaving—but why?”
Daeveena huffed. “I’m sick of doing all his dirty work without anything to show for it.”
I knew she could only mean our father. “When will you be back?”
“I don’t know if I’m coming back. You could come with me.”
“I’m sure it’ll be loads of fun,” I said with sarcasm. “But you know I can’t. It’s my duty to stay here and serve.”
Daeveena rolled her eyes. “Yeah, since our father can’t handle his shit. He sends you to do it for him. But we both know that’s not why you stay. You stay for the blonde wench downstairs, even though she’s just another vampire who you’re bound to serve for however fucking long they decide it suits them.”
“It’s not like that,” I said quietly.
“Don’t tell me what it’s like. How long has it been?”
“I try not to think about it, and I really wish you’d do the same.”
“You don’t have to do this. You’re better than this. Please come with me.”
I looked away. Confrontation always made me feel uncomfortable. That’s all it ever was in my family—cursing, fighting, and fighting dirty with our faerie magic. It would always be that way. At least serving Tessa was peaceful and certainly less painful than going home... despite my current position.
I lay on my side, sweat dotting my hairline and the edge of my corset. My hands were wrenched behind my back; a very long coil of cotton clothesline was twisted and wound around me. Tessa had made five loops around before tying it off—making sure it was nice and tight, leaving no possible chance of escape.
Not that I really wanted to break out of the binding. I wanted this. I needed this diversion. After all, I had asked Tessa to tie me up to get my mind off of Victoria.
Tessa had taken a short spreader bar from the armoire across the room, fastening it between my arms, just above my elbows, drawing my arms back and forcing my breasts to jut out. They strained against the fabric of my corset.
Then Tessa had used the length of rope still dangling from my tethered wrists, wrapping it around my body just above my elbows in the back and underneath my breasts in the front. Twice around my body, the rope crossed over and up. She ran them over the tops of my breasts, sandwiching them pendulously between the narrow bands of white clothesline.
She stood back with an immensely satisfied smile on her lips as she admired her handiwork. Tessa tied a secure knot to hold the long length of rope in place and brought it straight down my back where it trailed behind me. Quickly, she stuffed a gag in my mouth—her eyes dancing in amusement.
But she wasn’t through just yet. Using the last of the rope dangling behind my wrists, my back arched even more as she lashed my ankles together with the free end. I don’t know how many times she managed to wrap the rope around before she ran the end up and twisted it around the bind—hitching it together securely.
And finally she was done. I was so turned on that I already felt dampness between my legs.
Tessa picked me up and placed me on the bed. I had lain there bound, gagged, and at her mercy. She wedged her hand between my clenched thighs and thrust a finger into my waiting wetness. I groaned. Just when I was on the brink of orgasm, she threw back her head in laughter—her dark hair spilled down her back. She withdrew her finger and flicked a brightly polished red fingernail, before she strode out of the room, leaving me in agony.
Tessa enjoyed these games because she could play them a lot rougher due to my faerie blood. Any one of the human patrons at the club could never be left alone like this given our safety standards. And no human could ever tolerate the length of time spent restrained or the tightness of her binds. It was just enough to distract me from the heavy pressure I felt in my chest every time I thought about Victoria.
“I don’t want to argue with you,” I said.
Daeveena sighed. “Fine. What the fuck ever. Have it your way. I knew this was a waste of time.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just—”
“That you don’t have any backbone. That you’re the most spineless fucking faerie I’ve ever met. I know. You don’t need to tell me.”
Daeveena was always like this when she didn’t get her way. It wasn’t a surprise, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. The best way to deal with her was to change the subject, preferably to bring the focus back to her. When looking up self-absorbed in a Merriam-Webster dictionary a picture of Daeveena should be displayed next to its definition.
“Be careful, ok.”
Daveena’s eyes softened. “Take care, little sister.” She turned to leave.
“Can you do me a favor?”
Daveena looked back over her shoulder with an elegantly arched brow. “What?”
“Gag me.”
Tessa would be furious if she returned to find her handiwork any other way than how she left it.
Daveena gave an impish grin. “Gladly.”
She shoved the ball gag into my mouth and secured it more roughly than necessary, but I expected that from her. Daveena was pissed.
“Well, I’ll see you around. Try not to do anything stupid while I’m gone.” And with that she flounced out of the room, the dungeon door swinging shut behind her.
Tears streamed down my cheeks onto the maroon fitted sheet that covered the mattress. I felt certain that my dark mascara had smeared; giving me eyes rimmed like a raccoon. Daveena had always been difficult to deal with. At least she wouldn’t have the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I hated that she was right. I didn’t have a backbone.
But I told her I wouldn’t go with her. That’s something, isn’t it?
And it was good that I wasn’t going on her ill-fated journey to who knows where. It occurred to me then that I never asked her where she was going—only why. Not that it mattered. She had a habit of finding trouble wherever she went. Nothing could be done about it. Daveena was a grown woman and responsible for cleaning up her own mess. I’d be damned if I let her drag me into whatever misfortune she brought on herself this time.
We were never really sisters. Our father cheated on my mother and spawned Daveena with a demoness. My mother had the good sense to leave him, but she didn’t get very far. It wasn’t that he was a faerie. Mob wives never get to leave. The price of dragging us back here was me having to listen to an eternity of them bickering with one another. Finally, her biting remarks got the best of him and he exiled my mother. The last time I’d ever seen her had been over a century ago.
I cried even harder.
Sobs wracked my body as the flood gates opened and years of pain released in salty wetness that matted my silver hair against the mattress. I could hear footsteps in the hallway just outside the door. I inhaled deeply to steady my breathing and regain composure before I faced whoever was on the other side of the dungeon door.
Arie opened the door. My breath caught in my throat. Damn. What a fine specimen of masculinity. Arie worked for Tessa, and the two of them had been friends for longer than I had lived. He was a vampire and my closest friend at HFC besides Victoria. His dark, wavy hair curled around the collar of his leather jacket and his haunted gray eyes reminded me of a stormy sea. He stopped at the foot of the bed, his cool stare softening as he looked down at me. Arie stooped down and took the gag out of my mouth.
“Luna. Are you okay?” he asked softly.
“I’m fine.”
Arie brushed a tear from my cheek. “Don’t lie to me. You’ve been crying. Why?”
“It’s nothing. Really, I’ll be fine. What are you doing here?”
“Victoria sent me to check on you. She told me that she saw Tessa take a call and then leave. She didn’t want you to be stuck up here while she’s gone.”
My heart leapt into my throat even though it didn’t mean anything. It was a kindness that Victoria would have shown anyone. It didn’t mean that she cared about me. Not the way I care about her. Arie sat gently on the side of the bed. He removed a switchblade knife from his jacket pocket and carefully cut through the cotton clothesline before pulling it apart. Gently, he removed the spreader bar and I rubbed my wrists once they were free. Arie undid the rest of the binding, tossing the rope on the floor.
Suddenly, I felt vulnerable and unbidden tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry Arie. I’m such a mess.”
“Shhh. Hush.” He pulled me into his lap and cradled me in his arms as if I were a small child. “Tell me. What’s got you so upset?”
“It’s my sister. She’s leaving and I don’t know when I’ll ever see her again. Everyone leaves. I don’t have anyone.”
My voice broke and I started sobbing all over again, but I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t just my sister. My sister, my servitude, and my unreturned love for Victoria had me wrung so tight that a riptide of emotion threatened to drown me. I never let any of it bring me down, but now that the tears I’d been holding back flowed freely, I didn’t think I could stop.
Arie planted a chaste kiss on my on the top of my head and stroked my hair. “That’s not true—you have me and you have Victoria. Daveena will be back. She won’t be able to stay away.”
I was surprised Arie even remembered her name. Daveena had only been to the club once or twice.
I laughed. “I hope you’re right.”
Do I really want her to come back? She makes such a mess of it when she’s here.
Arie had a soft side that rarely anyone saw. He could always calm me down with his logic when I was running hot on emotion. I swiped at my tear-stained cheeks and he brushed a stray strand of silver hair away from my face. Our eyes locked, he leaned in to kiss my forehead, but I angled my face upward and met his lips with mine. He paused before returning my kiss and gradually the kiss deepened as he explored my mouth with his tongue.
He planted tender kisses on my cheeks, on my chin, and trailed light kisses down my neck, stopping at the edge of my corset. His knuckles brushed across the line of my jaw.
Arie searched my eyes. “Luna, do you want this?”
“Make love to me, Arie. I need you to.”
“Turn around.”
I felt Arie tugging and pulling as his fingers worked deftly to undo the long set of laces on my corset. It was my customary attire for waitressing in the bar on the second floor of the Hellfire Club. Tessa enjoyed modern twists on fashions from centuries long forgotten. After unlacing the black corset, Arie lowered it and it dropped to the ground. He pulled my purple blouse over my head from behind and tossed it aside.
When I turned in his arms, he cradled my face with both his hands. He kissed me with a gentleness that I wouldn’t have thought possible for him. I melted into his embrace as his hand fell to my back, pulling me toward him. He pressed me back into the bed; his eyes darkened as he looked down at me.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?”
I could feel warmth fill my cheeks. I’d never been good with compliments.
He lowered his mouth to my nipple, teasing it with his teeth and his tongue. I could feel my nipple harden in response. Arie moved to my other breast, giving it equal attention until both nipples were rigid. I urged his head lower by pressing my hands firmly on his shoulders.
Arie laughed, a rich and dark sound.
Leisurely, his hand slid up the back of my leg—from my calf, to the soft spot on the back of my knee, to the back of my thigh. I licked my dry lips, anticipating the feel of his hands and his tongue working me like dark faerie magic. He raised my skirt and it bunched around my hips, before he pulled off my lacy black underwear. They lay discarded and forgotten on the floor.
His tongue traced my inner thigh and stopped teasingly when he reached the wetness between my legs. Then his tongue traced down my other thigh, before he started working his way back up. Arie blew hot breath on my cleft. I closed my eyes. Unsolicited images of Victoria between my thighs danced behind my closed lids. His tongue did slow, savoring licks over my swollen clit.
I groaned as I wove my fingers through his dark curls. He rimmed my trembling slit, teasing me as he swirled his tongue. Then his tongue speared into me just as I desired of his cock. I fisted my hands into the sheets and whimpered, my body responding to the expert flicks of his tongue. My body quaked and shuddered as I came from his tireless licking. I lay panting in a boneless puddle that melted across the sheets of Tessa’s bed. He trailed soft kisses up my belly to my breasts.
When he looked at me, there was a need in his eyes like I’d never seen before. As if something haunted him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. I nibbled on his lower lip before stroking his tongue with mine. He groaned into my mouth. I could feel his erection pressing my hip even through his jeans.
My hands worked the zipper and released him from his pants. I wrapped my hand around his cock, sliding my hand up and down its length. He swelled, growing thicker and longer as I worked his shaft. Arie caught my wrist, stilling my movements. I smiled. He needed this as much as I did.
The head of his cock poised above the slick entrance of my body and he pushed inexorably into me. I moaned as I shifted to accommodate his width, spreading my sensitive folds that molded around him. He began to move slowly and rhythmically. I wrapped my legs around his hips, pulling him deeper. Arie linked his hands with mine, taking my mouth as he moved languidly in and out with relentless precision.
Katarina...
The surge of telepathy hit me like a whisper that filled the dungeon with longing. My eyes fluttered open and I looked up at him. Arie’s eyes were closed—lost in my body as he made love to someone else—completely unaware of the telepathic thought transference. Victoria had told me the story once. He’d loved her, but in the end Katarina’s madness had turned that love to hate. And no one would ever fill the gap left in Arie’s heart.
I wrapped my legs around him tighter, matching the rhythm of every stroke. I wanted to give him the same solace that he gave to me—each of us pushing away thoughts of someone else. He drove the message of loneliness and emptiness into me with every rock-hard inch. Arie used my body to drive away the aching hollowness with every thrust. He finished me with tenderness and I came, crying out with relief, my body vibrating beneath him. His pace quickened for several hammering strokes. Then he climaxed with a grunt, spilling into me.
We sprawled across the mattress, sweaty and boneless and utterly replete. Arie slid out of me, readjusting himself in his jeans. He stroked the side of my face with the backs of his fingers. The darkness in his eyes and the haunted desperation had dissolved. And the Arie that I knew, the one that I could depend on, who’d always been there for me since the day I first set foot in the Hellfire Club, had returned.
I smiled. “You’re going to have to help me back into my corset.”
“I’ve never been good with those damned things. I was always better at taking them off. I’ll send Victoria up to help you.”
I blushed at the thought of Victoria’s cool fingers brushing against my skin as she laced me up.
“Thank you,” I said.
Arie looked down at me for a moment. He looked impossibly young and boyish, carefree almost. I didn’t mention the telepathy. It would only ruin that perfect moment when he looked spent, complete, and his skin glowed luminously.
“Why don’t you take the night off?”
“But Tessa— ”
“Don’t worry about Tessa. I’ll handle her, and I’ll have Victoria cover for you. You need a night off, considering the situation with your family.”
I wouldn’t argue with that logic. “I appreciate it.”
Arie grasped my hand and planted a kiss on the back of it before striding out of the dungeon.
Reading Advisory
I respect my readers enough to know that those who have survived sexual or domestic abuse and some readers may find certain elements of the following story difficult to digest. This next story is a different tone than the previous ones you have read. It’s about strength and survival. However, if you prefer to continue reading lighter material you may skip ahead to Chained or turn the page for Victoria’s Story: Burned.
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