We’re standing close. My room isn’t large, barely enough space for the both of us. I back away as far as I can but he looms above me, so large and attractive, his sweat-drenched clothing clinging to his muscular body. I shiver, wanting to keep the memory of his mouth biting my tits and the wax burning my skin from overwhelming me into doing something very stupid.
“You don’t get to throw me around this house, you know,” I say through my teeth. “Just because everyone else treats you like some pirate king, don’t expect me to.”
A slight smile cracks his lips. “No, I didn’t think you would.”
“Nobody told me I’m not allowed in the basement. In fact, nobody told me anything, so how am I expected to know what my boundaries are?”
He nods at that. “You’re right. I didn’t tell you. But I also didn’t give you permission, either.”
I throw up my hands, exasperated. “Do I have to check with you before doing anything now? Is that how this works?” I give him a mocking smile. “Please, Emilio, may I go to class?”
He takes a step forward and I flinch back. That makes him smile more.
“I told you, I own you now. I think you should get down on your fucking knees and beg me to let you leave this room. Otherwise, maybe I’ll keep you locked in here.”
“I’m a member of your society, not your fucking pet.”
“No, you’re not?” He tilts his head, considering. “Actually, I like that. Yes, Kaye, you can be my pet. How does that sound, pet? I’ll treat you well so long as you learn how to follow my commands.”
“Don’t start calling me that. I swear, I’ll leave.” It’s a bluff. I’m shivering with anger, but I’m not going anywhere. If I can take the initiation, I can take this bullshit too, and he must know it, because his face doesn’t change.
“I doubt it. Not after last night. Did you mean it when you said you were thinking about what I did to you? No, don’t answer, it’ll only be more bullshit. I’ll tell you what you’re thinking, pet. You’re thinking you can ferret out my secrets. You’re thinking you can wander around my house and walk into my basement and learn everything we’ve been doing, but you’re not there yet, and don’t forget it. Not even Dom and Nathan know everything about this place. Do you understand, pet? You need to work a lot harder. You need to please me a lot more.”
“You don’t trust me.”
He laughs and nods, turning toward the window. He steps away and looks outside, staring into the distance. “I don’t trust you at all. Did you really think I would? You let me pour hot wax on your supple, gorgeous skin and you had an incredible orgasm while I sucked on your firm tits, and suddenly you think I’m going to spill all my secrets?”
“Stop it,” I snap, turning bright red. “You don’t have to be so crude.”
“No, pet, you’re nowhere near ready. I need to wrap my leash around your throat and tug tight until you break. Then maybe I’ll trust you.”
My hands come to my neck. My eyes go wide. He doesn’t notice because he’s looking out the window, but the idea of him choking me sends a sharp pang of terror into my heart. I remember the dark, a long time ago, a deep night without any moon, and a pair of hands digging into my neck, digging tighter and tighter, and laughter as my vision began to black out—
I force the panic attack away with deep breaths. Not right now. I can’t think about that right now.
He turns to face me, eyes intense. He doesn’t mention my distress and I do my best to keep it hidden. “Here are the rules, since you want to know them so badly. The basement is off limits to everyone except for me, Lesley, and Terrence. That very much includes you. The caves are off limits—”
“What caves?”
“You’ll see. You may only go down to the caves in the Jeeps when we’re loading and unloading cargo. The smuggled items are off limits, and stealing is not tolerated. Especially if you get caught.”
“Okay, what else, pirate king?”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Last but not least. My room is off limits. If I ever catch you going in there, you won’t like what happens.”
I open my mouth to protest, but frankly, the rules are pretty reasonable. Don’t violate his privacy, don’t go in the basement, don’t steal from the society, and don’t go wandering off to whatever these caves are—probably where he keeps his boat, if I had to guess. Otherwise, I’m free to roam and live my life. Reasonable.
But frustrating, because any evidence about what happened to my sister will be hidden in one of those places.
At least now I have a list of where to check.
“I understand. From now on, I’ll keep to myself.”
“I don’t need you to be a hermit, pet. I just need you to obey.” He walks back to the door and hesitates before opening it. “One more thing. What happened between us last night, that’s not something I do with every new recruit.” He glances back at me, his expression strange and intense. “Paola and Lesley included.”
I frown, not sure how to take that. Is he worried that I think he’s dripping hot candle wax on all his female members? The idea hadn’t occurred to me, but now I think it’s not all that unlikely. I’ve noticed the way other girls look at him like he’s some kind of god, and I’d bet there are a dozen or more willing candle-wax participants that would die and go to heaven to experience half of what I went through.
Which makes it all that much stranger.