Savage Chains: Scarred (#2) (6 page)

Instead, she overlaid his right arm, the one that held her tight to his side as they walked, and squeezed.

He guided her past three mansions, and after a turn in the path as the river shifted to a southeasterly direction Engles’s home came into view.

She stared up at an incredible mansion built several stories high of white stone, reaching almost to the top of the cavern. The pyramid effect had vines trailing off several balconies and trees growing everywhere.

Reyes, how does anything grow in these underground caverns without sunlight?

It’s simple, really. We make use of modern technology and massive grow lights that run on timers. A community like this would have specified daily periods in which the entire cavern is ablaze with manufactured light. We have a lot of engineers in our culture.

It’s truly amazing.

She began to believe that from what she’d seen this civilization could do just about anything.

Another boat moved by, but Angelica didn’t bother looking. She knew what to expect, and no matter how beautiful the lights or the artistic design of the set, the exhibition of flesh and sex would once again disgust her.

She walked beside Reyes in silence, working to sustain her submissive appearance. At the same time, a strange emotion vibrated through the blood-chain.

Something was bothering Reyes.

###

A chill chased down Reyes’s spine as he stared up at Engles’s massive riverside home. Though Reyes had never been to this part of the world before, he couldn’t shake a bizarre feeling of familiarity, though he had no basis for it.

He thought the mansion a monstrosity, though he admired how the building actually molded itself to the shape of the cavern wall. The dwelling was the size of a small hotel, and he knew from gossip over the years that it boasted fifteen bedrooms, some of them equipped with smaller versions of his game room.

Engles stood alone on a secondary platform, away from the river’s edge by thirty feet and guarded by a security detail. He held a tumbler in his hand, probably his favorite Dubonnet. A pair of female slaves, wearing nothing but chain chokers, stood nearby, heads bowed, bodies bruised. Engles represented the worst of his kind, depraved and self-involved, as though nothing else in the world should ever happen except what pleased him.

Engles had an odd, owl-like look with large dark eyes and a hawkish nose. He combed his thick mass of wavy dark-brown hair away from his face, had a deep indentation in his chin, and possessed a level of charisma that made him appear better-looking than he really was. His head swiveled in Reyes’s direction, Engles smiled and waved his hand in acknowledgment but swiftly reverted his attention to the party below.

His gaze scanned the crowd on the deck that ran at least forty yards along the riverfront. Engles seemed methodical in his search, as though cataloging who had attended his event and maybe deciding to award favors based on that attendance. He wore a sharkskin coat and black slacks, an open-collared black shirt.

Reyes tightened his grip on Angelica.
Do you see Engles?

Yes. He’s like a hawk, isn’t he, looking for prey?

Reyes nodded.
And we just need to avoid his talons.

Repressing a sigh, Reyes held the leash at shoulder level, another dominant position, as he guided Angelica toward the steps that led to the curved stone platform. He moved in Engles’s direction, intending to fulfill his obligation, when from the opposite side Engles’s security detail called to Engles, handing him a phone.

Engles’s face turned scarlet with rage as he shouted into the cell.

Reyes shifted direction, guiding Angelica toward the mansion.
I think we’ll leave him alone for now.

Good idea. Besides, I was not looking forward to being anywhere near that man. There’s something not right about him. Personification of evil, maybe.

I think that’s exactly right.

But as Reyes led her up the walk to the house another chill traveled down his back.

What is it?
Angelica asked.
Because I’m getting this strange vibe from you.

Reyes felt confused.
I honestly don’t know, but I keep getting this feeling that I’ve been here before. Yet, I know I haven’t.

Do you think someone has messed with your memories? I mean, is that even possible in your world?

Possible, yes.
His thoughts went immediately to Sweet Dove. The woman was an Ancestral, part of the reason she’d been able to gain such complete control over him, to hold him all those years. Some of his chains had been preternaturally enhanced with her power, a kind of binding that took decades to sever despite how physically strong he’d grown over the years.

But the question was, would Sweet Dove have taken his memories of being in this house before? If so, why?

I find it awkward speaking to you but not looking at you,
Angelica sent.

I know what you mean.

And I feel dizzy suddenly.

He glanced at her. Though there were hardly any people near the house, he still held her tight, but he could feel her trembling.
What’s wrong?

I don’t know. I don’t like this, Reyes. Something isn’t right.

I’m getting that feeling as well.

What do we do?
She looked worried, a tight frown between her brows.

We go forward. I want to know what’s happening here as well, but I’ll have to release you. It won’t look right to be supporting you this way.

I know.
She removed her hand and he slid his arm from around her waist. Holding the leash, he gathered up the slack a little more.

When he crossed the threshold Angelica gasped, as she should have. Even he was stunned by the sight of split curved staircases that met at an upper landing. A massive crystal chandelier hung from a forty-foot-high ceiling.

Dozens of guests milled throughout the foyer and off to both sides. Elegant food stations ranged throughout, but he didn’t see an open bar. Reyes thought he understood, that Engles might enjoy a good party, but the drunken revels could take place dockside rather than in his dwelling.

Engles liked control on every level.

Reyes accepted more congratulations on his winning bid, just as Angelica received the once-over again and again. He didn’t like it and bristled more than once at a suggestive comment.

Ignore them,
she sent.

Reyes shook his head.
Is it that obvious?

The chains speak your irritation every single time.

He glanced around.
Are you hungry?

A little.

I’ll have you pile up a plate and hopefully find someplace private. Unfortunately, for show I’ll have to control what and how much you eat.

Don’t worry about that. Let’s do whatever we need to do.

He passed by a seafood buffet and wended his way to a less populated room that opened on to a side garden. Another buffet sat in the middle with a spicy aroma.

Italian. How does that sound?

Perfect.

He ordered her to load a plate, then directed her into the garden. He wanted to have her stretch out on the chaise longue and kick off her shoes, but there were security cameras everywhere. He chose instead a chair and ottoman, so that she could take the subservient position in front of him.

I’m pretty sure we’ll be on video again, so follow my lead.

She lowered her head, nodding, holding the plate with both hands.

You’re doing great. Just try to keep the fire from your eyes.

Her lips threatened to curve.
The fire?

Yes, you have fire in your eyes, one of the things I value about you.

So, you value me.

You know I do.
He wanted to tell her more, but several people had entered the garden and he risked his cover by appearing to hesitate.
We should get this show started.

Ready when you are.

He gestured to the ottoman. “Sit down, slave.”

When she’d taken her seat he continued, “You’re to feed me.”
Can you make your hands tremble?

Sure.

She did an excellent job, preparing bites of food for him, her fingers shaking, her head down. He ate two forkfuls before he said, “You may have a bite, a small one.”

She obeyed him.

By now they had an audience, one that continued to grow. In Starlin terms, they were both famous. He sat back watching her, forcing a hard expression to his features, just short of a glare. To her mind he sent,
You’re doing great.

This whole thing is freaking me out, Reyes. Why have at least twenty people come to watch this?

They’re hoping it will devolve into either violence or sex.

Is that what we need to do?
He could feel her mounting tension through the vibration of the chains.

Doesn’t matter. Not gonna happen.

“You may prepare another small bite for yourself.”

Using the side of her fork, she sliced a piece of corkscrew pasta in half, speared a pea-sized worth of prosciutto, and slipped it between her teeth.

You’re beautiful. Have I told you that, Angelica? And now you’re blushing.
Aloud, he said, “I’ll have a bite of the bread.”

“Yes, master.” She lifted the toasted sourdough.

Look at me, Angelica.
She lifted her gaze to his, and the moment she did he opened his mouth and she slid the piece inside.

Reyes.
She whispered his name through his mind and suddenly all he could think about was having her under him. He’d wanted her from the beginning, but in this situation, with her feeding him bits of pasta and bread and looking voluptuous in her black-and-turquoise leopard bustier, he was aroused all over again. In an effort to calm down he shifted his gaze to the row of nearby large planters that held thirty-foot cypresses.

You okay?
Her voice and her concern did little to help his problem.

Not exactly, but I think it’s time you stopped feeding me.

She settled the plate on her lap and folded her hands.
I don’t suppose you could find us a dark corner somewhere?

What are you proposing?

Her gaze flicked suddenly to his, then fell obsequiously to her lap.
You know what I’d like? I mean, really like?

He could hardly breathe and he didn’t dare try to stand up.
What’s that?

Reyes, I know this is going to sound strange, but I’d love a first kiss. We haven’t had that, you know. We’ve had other things, but I’d like a real first kiss.

Are you forgetting that you kissed me at the Ocean Club?

Her chest rose and fell in a deep breath.
That’s not the kind of kiss I’m talking about. That was just me showing you how much I wanted you.

Reyes loved the idea of giving Angelica a first kiss.
I can find us someplace private.
He rose to his feet, took the plate, and set it on a nearby table. Gathering up her leash once more and without saying either a word to her or to the now-disappointed crowd, he led her back into the house.

###

Angelica felt Reyes’s determination vibrate through her chain. He didn’t dawdle, either, but moved as swiftly as her stupid shoes would let them. He even levitated her up to the second, then the third floor of the sprawling mansion.

A lot of the bedrooms were in use, but he didn’t bother finding an empty one. They would all have cameras; that much Angelica understood extremely well about this perverse culture.

At last, he drew her out onto one of the balconies that proved empty of guests but had a lush garden. Guiding her away from the French doors, he pulled her off to the side so they couldn’t be seen.

“Get rid of your shoes.” He kept his voice low.

“Oh, can I really?”

“Hell, even I’m in pain watching you walk in them.”

“I’ve been siphoning your power,” she said, also whispering, “but it still isn’t enough.”

He supported her while she stepped out of the monstrosities. She flexed her feet and moaned. “Thank you for that. Although I’d be hurting worse if I hadn’t been using your power to heal my feet along the way.”

“I don’t know how you women bear them.”

“Not easily, but they’re pretty.”

“And these are unusually absurd.”

He drew her into the shadows off to the side. “So you wanted a first kiss.”

“Does that seem silly to you?”

“No, actually, it doesn’t. This has all been ass-backwards and I’d apologize again, but it doesn’t change what’s happened.”

He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, which sent a spattering of goose bumps traveling down her back. She settled her hands on his arms, aware yet again that he was heavily muscled and more man than she’d ever kissed before.

The lighting in the patio was very soft, but she siphoned a little more of his power and warmed up her vision so that she saw him perfectly. “Reyes,” she murmured.

He tilted his head slightly and moved in. He met her parted lips with a soft pressure of his own that went straight to her knees.

She slid her arm around his neck, and when he deepened the kiss she moaned all over again. His tongue dove within, causing her body to strain against him, needing more.

Angelica.
His voice in her head felt like the softest vibration.

He gripped her waist tighter, then slowly ground his hips into her. She could feel the hard length of him and gasped as his tongue began to plunge in and out.

For a first kiss this one rocked. She couldn’t get enough of the warm feel of his lips, his tongue searching the recesses of her mouth, then driving once more, of his arms flexing and releasing.

She let her thoughts flow.
I wanted to take you home that night at the Ocean Club.

When he drew back he leaned his forehead against hers. “If things had been different, I would have gone with you, maybe even stayed all night.” He caressed her arms. “I’ve wanted you badly, but this situation …”