I maintained eye contact, damning him for doing this to me. I hoped he felt every flame of my rage. I hoped it charred his already black heart to ash.
A hand running up the back of my leg startled me and I jumped away. My foot tripped over the edge of the table. I hurtled down.
Someone caught me and set me on my feet. Vinemont pressed me into him, my face lying against his hard chest. For once, I was happy to be near him, happy to be at least somewhat covered. His hands were warm on my skin, his palms damp. Had he been sweating my forced exhibition?
“She’s skittish, huh?”
I whipped my head around. Lucius was tall, lanky, and had similar tattoos as Vinemont. He wore a blue plaid shirt, the buttons at the top casually undone and the sleeves rolled up. His hair was a tousled brown, slightly lighter than Vinemont’s and darker than Teddy’s. Another brother?
“She’s mine, Lucius. I was just teaching our little brother that lesson.” Vinemont’s voice rumbled against my ear.
Lucius arched an eyebrow before snagging a piece of bacon from my plate and devouring it. “I think all you taught Teddy was that a wanking is absolutely necessary ASAP.”
Teddy stood. “I can’t take any more of this mindfuck. I’m going into town for the day.”
He fled the room in a huff. I envied him.
Lucius kept his gaze on my ass, the one piece of me that wasn’t pressed against Vinemont. “She’s definitely a prize. Think you’ll get to be Sovereign? I’m still not clear on all the rules, by the way.”
“Only the firstborn knows the rules. You’re just guessing,” Vinemont growled.
The tension in the room took on another dimension, thickening the air like invisible smoke.
“Then tell me already.” Lucius pointedly licked the bacon grease from his index finger as he continued staring at my exposed rear.
Vinemont released his hold and pushed me behind him. I was beginning to agree with Teddy about the mindfuck. First he wanted to exhibit me and now he wanted to hide me?
“That would be breaking the rules. You aren’t a firstborn.”
I peeked around Vinemont.
“Fine.” Lucius shrugged. “I’ll just enjoy the show. I know enough from what Mother told us. This should get entertaining pretty fast. When’s the ball?”
“Friday.”
“You mean tomorrow? Damn. You waited pretty late to collar your Acquisition.” He sprawled in the chair next to mine. “Laura!”
The pretty maid hurried in but stopped as soon as she saw me. Vinemont put a hand on my hip, possessive. She recovered far more quickly than I would have in this situation and poured Lucius a cup of coffee before fetching a plate of food for him.
“Thanks, babe.” Lucius grinned at her.
She retreated, but not before casting another worried glance in my direction.
“I trust you’ll stay out of my way as far as the Acquisition is concerned?” Vinemont’s fingertips dug into me.
“Yeah, what do I care? It would be nice if you’d share, though you’ve never been particularly good at that.”
The pressure increased, his whole hand palming my hip. “Just stay out of my way.”
Lucius waved his fork in the air. “Fine. Carry on with your sadism. Ignore the man behind the breakfast plate.”
“Get your clothes.” Vinemont removed his hand, the warmth gone and leaving goosebumps in its wake.
I crept from behind Vinemont. Lucius watched every move intently as he chewed. I darted around behind him and snagged my jeans, shirt, bra, socks, and shoes, but I couldn’t find my underwear.
I pulled the shirt on over my head and hastily yanked on my jeans. Once covered, I peered around the base of the chairs looking for any sign of my wayward panties. They weren’t where I’d left them, and I couldn’t find them on the floor.
“Lucius, give them up,” Vinemont said.
“Give what up?” He shrugged and turned to me. His eyes were lighter than his brother’s, sky blue instead of the dark depths of Vinemont’s. Lucius gave me lascivious wink.
I didn’t think it was possible to like someone less than I liked Vinemont. I may have been wrong.
Vinemont stabbed his fingers through his hair and let out a particularly vile curse before turning toward the door. “Come on, Stella.”
I followed Vinemont, but before I left the room, I turned. “I haven’t had a shower yet today. Just so you know.”
Lucius smiled. “Mmm, I like it best when they’ve soaked a bit.”
Motherfucker.
“You’re only encouraging him.” Vinemont pulled me down the hall.
“Get your hands off me.” I yanked my arm away from him.
“Fine,” he snarled. “Just go the fuck upstairs. I can’t deal with this right now.”
“You can’t deal with this? Are you kidding me?”
“Stella, I’m warning you.” He advanced, crowding me back into the wall.
“I’m not afraid of you.” I tried to put the force of my conviction into my words. It was a lie. I was scared, confused, and more alone than I’d ever been.