“So, what did he make you come here for?” I muttered, taking a handful of grapes and popping one into my mouth sullenly. It was surprisingly sweet.
“He hasn’t made me do anything,” Rake replied.
I looked at him skeptically as I ate a couple more grapes. They were actually really good. Then I saw berries in a bowl next to them and chose one of those too, eating it—then having to awkwardly catch the juice before it dripped down my chin. Rake smiled. I stifled embarrassment, but waited for him to actually answer the question.
Rake sighed and folded his arms. “He asked me to come talk to you, to see if I could help.”
“Help with what?”
“Understanding that he isn’t, perhaps, exactly what you think?” he said carefully.
I sat back in my chair shaking my head as I picked up a little toothpick thingy from a
~ JESSE ~“My brothers sold me to them,” I muttered, still not quite able to believe it myself. I’d known my brothers hated me, but I’d never thought…Rake stiffened. “Like the story of Joseph? Sold into slavery by his brothers?”It was my turn to blink. “You know that story?”Rake huffed. “The title Cleric isn’t an honorific. I am a spiritual advisor, Jesse. Yes, I know the story of Joseph. I also know what your name means.”That made me squirm. “Don’t tell him.”“I won’t. That won’t make it less true.”I gave a one-shouldered shrug, but didn’t answer. I didn’t think there was really any truth to—“So, truly, your brothers sold you to the Reapers? In this day and age that’s—”“Human trafficking. Yes.”R
~ JESSE ~The minutes that followed were possibly the most surreal of my life—and given the day I’d had, that was saying something.At first Cazz dodged my questions about a Wolf Den. I’d heard the stories, of course. But once again, I’d assumed they were just that—stories.Cazz kept smiling and refusing to give any meaningful details, insisting that I would have to see it to understand it, which only made me more nervous.But then, out of nowhere, another raft of servants arrived. And this time they were all carrying clothes and boxes of shoes.Hangers filled with dresses, gowns, tunics, sweaters, shirts, blouses, and every kind of skirt and pant I could have imagined.There was a dozen of them, and they made several trips each, disappearing into a large door off beside the bathroom that I hadn’t explored yet. When Cazz encouraged me to follow the second wave of them in and be
~ JESSE ~It took a second to get my wits back, but when I did I turned around to call after him, he was really gone. No longer in sight of the door. And I wasn’t sure if there were servants coming back now that he had left. So I hurriedly whipped off the robe and started pulling on the clothes…And then I cursed him.The pants were fine—black leather, though thinner than his. They were a little tricky to get on because they were tight. But the leather was soft and pliable, and once I had them up and buttoned I was surprised how comfortable they felt.But then I grabbed the top and pulled it over my head—except when I got it down over my ribs I thought I had ripped it.I looked down, freaking out—I couldn’t even put a blouse on without tearing it? But then I realized it was a crop top that had fooled me.The sleeves fell silkily from the points of my shoulders, but the necklin
~ CASIMIR ~I had to pull away from Jesse because my need became so desperate I was at risk of frightening her, and that wouldn’t help her relax, which was the entire point of this little adventure. It was a frustration. But I had to keep reminding myself she was new to this. That her first experiences with me had to be positive to encourage her confidence. It was imperative to condition her body to expect pleasure so that she'd give herself into my hands and continue to submit.But the problem was, despite her naivete, she showed an eagerness and passion that matched my own.Dear god, her kiss was intoxicating.Of course, I was less enthralled with the heaviness in her—the fatalistic doubt drenching her. But her childish embarrassment about dancing had given me this idea, and I trusted it would draw her out and hopefully offer her a reason to continue exploring with me, rather than drawing into herself a
~ JESSE ~Following Cazz into the tunnels below the palace felt like being swallowed by a mountain.Down levels. Down stairs. Down, deeper into the earth below, where the hallways became caves, and half of the side tunnels didn’t even have doors.My breath got shorter, and not just because we were walking quickly, but because I could feel the immense weight above us and every instinct wanted to scream that we were about to be buried in a cave-in.But both Cazz and Rake seemed completely comfortable down here. So I just clung to Cazz’s hand and kept following.It was a maze under here, but slowly, as the walls got rougher and more natural, and the ceilings got lower—though still high enough for these massive men to move comfortably through them—I also became aware of a kind of… vibration.At first it felt like the air was humming, but then I started to notice trembling in the rock un
~ JESSE ~When we reached the floor of the Den, I was hanging back against the drag of Cazz's hand.“Cazz,” I hissed. “Can you teach me some of the steps first, or something? I'm going to make a fool of myself if I don't—”Cazz turned, looking stern, his mouth open like he was about to snap at me. But his eyes flipped up, over my shoulder for a moment, and he went still. Then he pressed his lips thin, shaking his head as if he didn't like what he saw. But he didn't reply, just turned to scan the spaceThe music was climbing towards another crescendo. The lights surged, then faded in time with the beat. That mass of bodies writhed. When the lights flared again, they made Cazz's eyes spark.He was staring at something, and smiling. I started to follow his gaze, but then he turned towards me again.“I have an idea,” he said, leaning down so his breath fluttered in m
~ JESSE ~Cazz moved like he was made from water. Really muscular, strong water. His torso was a study in sexy perfection.Sexfection.I giggled breathlessly and let my head drop back, letting Cazz take my weight in his large hand splayed at my spine.Cazz's eyes flashed when I laughed, but instead of speaking, he only leaned closer, his flat pecs brushing my chest as he loomed over me and rolled his torso deliciously, the muscles rippling and flexing in the pulsating lights. He touched my face with his free hand as he writhed against me.I was a little giddy, and doing my best to move with him, to keep time with the music, but my mind kept drifting—and so did my hands.I was fascinated by the carved lines between his pecs and under them, the ladders of muscle up his abs and over his ribs. Even as I rolled my hips and Cazz ground against me, I ran fingertips along the lines on his stomach, my breath catchin
~ CASIMIR ~The moment Jesse tapped into the pack mind I got hard.Watching her open herself and lose that tension in her shoulders—watching her smile and move as if her own body didn’t frighten her. Or mine. It was stunning. I suddenly saw all the strength in her that the reapers must have identified. And I wanted her.I could have swept her out of there and taken her on the spot.When she lost her self-consciousness and just let herself move and respond to me… Dear God, the way she stroked me, the heat in her eyes.I was convinced bringing her to the den was the best idea I’d ever had.When she turned back to face me I took her hips in my hands and pulled her against me, shamelessly grinding on her, keeping her plastered against me. As we moved together, more and more in sync, deeper and deeper in the bond and unaware of anything else, adrenaline flooded my system.I