Chapter 25

I leaned toward Julie, whispering in her ear. “Have you ever been to one?”

“To a movie theater? You’re joking, right?”

“No. I think I went a few times as a kid, but I don’t remember. I was pretty young. My parents were gone a lot.”

“I went a few weeks ago. The movie sucked. The popcorn was good, though.”

“I like popcorn.”

She glanced back smiling. “Me too.”

“Slave!”

Bram’s voice had me jumping.

“Are you socializing in the middle of my tour?” My head quickly shook.

“Are you lying to me? I clearly saw you talking and smiling. What is so funny that you feel the need to laugh while I’m talking about your safety?”

I glanced at Julie, pausing as I looked back at Bram.

“I like popcorn.”

All he could do was stare at me. One minute he was slightly shaking his head, the next he had my bicep in his grasp and he was pulling me out of the line.

“Radio for Mr. Harper and tell him to come down to City Center.”

Further, I was pulled away from the others. Bram spun me to him, grabbing my throat as he jerked me close. Where the others may have thought he was hurting me, he added no pressure. If anything, it was a comfort. How many times had he held to my throat when he kissed me? So many. Was he going to now? I only hoped. So much so that I had to ask.

I licked my lips, tilting my head back even more to look into his eyes.

“Will you kiss me in front of everyone?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What I should be doing is beating you to prove a point.”

“What would you beat me with? Your fist? Something else?” Bram’s eyes flickered and his lids closed for a few seconds.

“I would beat you so hard with my cock right now. I’d much rather shove it down your throat so you stop talking back with your smart ass mouth.”

“Can you still feel my tongue licking around you? Can you feel me sucking you deeper?”

Fingers tightened and his face grew closer. “Watch it, slave. You don’t know what kind of fire you’re playing with. You’d be smart to stay hating me. You’re safe there.” He swallowed hard, moving in even more. “You’re wearing what I got you. I can smell it everywhere I go. Did you do it intentionally? Are you trying to make me lose my fucking mind?”

“I like it. It smells good on me.”

“Liar.”

“So are you. You’re doing this. There’s still time. Put an end to this stupid auction of me. You don’t want me going to West Harper. You can’t.”

My voice crack and Bram’s eyebrows drew in. Something swept over his face and I couldn’t read what it was.

“He hasn’t given me a reason to deny the request, yet. You will go to him. I’m a man of my word. I already told him yes.”

“But you don’t want him to have me. Tell me you don’t want that.”

“I want you alive. Happy. You won’t have that with me. Especially if I… You won’t be safe. Leave it at that.”

Motion blurred in the far background from my peripheral and I knew time was running out.

“I would be happy with you. I would be a good slave. I wouldn’t give you reason to be angry. Tell him no. Tell him you want me.”

The grip loosened and Bram dropped his hand to step back. “I can’t.”

Tears burned my eyes, blurring his saddened face. Within seconds, West was jogging up.

“What happened? What’s wrong.”

Bram wouldn’t look at me as he focused on his best friend. “Take her back to Slave Row before I have her whipped in front of everyone. She keeps interrupting my damn tour.”

West took a deep breath and slid his palm under my arm. Bram was already walking back to the front of the line. West locked on my bicep, turning me, despite that I suddenly didn’t want to go. The grip was light. Barely existent compared to Bram’s touch. I hated it. I was beginning to become very familiar with that emotion.

“Come, slave. You don’t want to anger him anymore.”

“He angers me.”

“What happened?”

We passed the guard and West took his time as he led me to the stairs.

“I haven’t touched grass since I was little. I bent down to feel and the guard thought I was picking something up from the ground. It caused a big scene.”

“What else?”

The slight smile on West’s face led me to continue.

“There’s a slave—my old roommate. You met her. Her name was Julie before she was brought here. Anyway, Mr. Whitlock was talking about the movie theater and I asked her if she’d ever been to one. I haven’t since I was a little girl and I really don’t remember.”

“Wait.” West pulled us to a stop. “Your master never took you to a movie?”

My head shook and I looked down. “City Center isn’t to be trusted. There are men there that would taunt him. We stayed inside most of the time.”

“You were with an old man. I will take you. And often. We will shop and see the shows. And the concerts. Did you know Master Blaze plays here a lot? He’s very famous on the outside.”

“He’s the rockstar?”

“Yes.”

“He’s come to see my old master before, but I never met him.”

“I’ll introduce you. This place really isn’t so bad if you know the right people.”

Fear had me stealing glances at him as we walked up the stairs, but I couldn’t deny the intrigue. Could he really keep me safe? Given what I could see of his body, I would think so. He wasn’t as wide or as tall as Bram, but he was still muscular looking. I scanned over his light brown hair and brown eyes, going lower. I could see where men may fear him. He was a good foot taller than me. Taller than most men here. And wider.

“You’re sizing me up.” He smiled. “What do you see? Do you think

I’m attractive? Can I protect you?”

“I believe so.” He paused and I wanted to bite off my own tongue. “I think you’re very attractive as well.”

“Good. You’re going to love me as your master. I promise.”

My head shook. “May I ask you some questions, Mr. Harper?”

“Ask me anything.”

“Alright. It has to do with you as a person … here. Do you like to cut away women’s skin?”

His head reared back. “That wasn’t the sort of questions I thought you meant. But, no. I don’t.”

“Do you like to beat women?”

We entered the opened hall and he glanced into the distance at City Center. “No. I don’t enjoy it at all. Would I beat you if you weren’t listening? Yes. It would have to be done. It doesn’t mean I would enjoy it.” I twisted my lips, letting more questions filter in.

“Master Harbone once told stories to my old master about sticking weird things inside of his slave. Do you plan to do that to me?”

West jerked to a stop, turning me to face him. “What kind of weird things? Toys?”

“Food. Objects. His foot, once.”

His head shook and he slowly continued us on. “Food and feet, no.

Toys, you will use in front of me, yes.”

“What kind of toys?”

“Did your old master make you use toys? Dildos, vibrators?”

“No. Never.”

“Hmm. You will with me, and there’s nothing wrong with that so don’t think there is. What else?”

“He once peed on his slave. I heard him say so. You’re not going to

…”

A loud laugh echoed through the halls. “Your innocence is shockingly refreshing. No, I will not urinate on you, nor will feces be involved at any point of our relationship.”

“Will you choke me during sex?”

The smile melted from West’s face and we slowed in our walk, again.

“That I may do, and you may come close to passing out from it. You have nothing to fear, though, I won’t hurt you.”

Some of my relief wash away. This man had secrets, I could feel it. There was something about him that I just couldn’t trust. And I still didn’t forget what Bram said about him possibly holding darkness. What was he hiding? I didn’t expect him to be honest with me about everything, tonight. Some things I wouldn’t discover until the time came. A time I prayed didn’t happen.