Chapter 53

West

I still couldn’t believe it. One good rape and my slave had turned completely around? She was even loving, snuggling up next to me as we’d gone to sleep. The papers … she signed without so much as a pause. I’d been anxious to get back to Whitlock, but after the ease of our union, I suddenly wasn’t in such a rush.

A yawn came from Everleigh and she winced, jolting awake. Her stare came to mine and where I expect the old slave to return, she smiled, wrapping her arm around my chest. Mine came up, pulling her closer. I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think of what to say. I was married … to Bram’s dream girl. And she was here, holding to me—the Master of Whitlock.

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

“You haven’t eaten much in the last few days. I’ll order breakfast while you get ready.” I paused in breaking away from her. “Do you need me to help you?”

Softness, almost adoration eased into her features. “I’m not sure.” Cautiously, she eased to a sitting position, closing her eyes for a few seconds. When she scooted to the bed and stood, she shook her head. “I think I’ll be okay.”

Each step she took to the restroom was small. The closer she got, the better her pace became. I reached for the phone, hitting Eli’s number.

“Breakfast.”

“No good morning?”

I sat up, stretching. “Good morning. Get me and my wife some breakfast and make it good. Do you know what my slave likes to eat?”

“How the hell would I know?”

“Because you’re supposed to be my new high leader. You need to know this shit. One of everything.”

I hung up the phone, turning to head to the other bathroom. Pain webbed out in my shoulder and I groaned through the annoyance. It didn’t take me long to go through my routine and get dressed. Everleigh was trying to fasten the strap of her heel when I came back into the room.

“Let me get that.”

I walked over, crouching before her. She kept quiet as I buckled the straps and pulled the slacks down over her ankles.

“Thank you.” Her mouth closed as she peered down at me.

“Master?”

“Husband,” I corrected, standing. “Master, in the bedroom. Husband all other times.” I pulled her in close, not able to resist the happiness that was filling every inch of me.

“Husband,” she said, placing another kiss on me. “I like that. I like you, this way.” Another kiss. A knock had anything else she meant to say dying off as her attention went to the door. It was enough to sour my mood.

I wanted her affection. Needed it.

“That must be breakfast. Come in!”

The door opened and Eli pushed a cart inside. It was obvious his mood was just as bad as mine suddenly was.

“One of everything. Just like you asked.” He took off the lids, turning to my wife as he pulled a notepad from his pocket. “It’s my job to know your favorite foods for future reference. Let’s start with breakfast.”

“Can it wait until after we eat?” I snapped.

Lower his lids narrowed as he glared.

“It’s okay, husband. I don’t mind.” Her smile dropped completely as she faced him. “Yogurt: strawberry. A banana, a slice of toast, with butter on the side. And one small bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar. Cranberry juice, not orange, and a glass of water. For lunch, I will take one of three things. The first will be a grilled chicken salad. No tomatoes, with ranch dressing. The second: is steak, cooked medium, not rare, and not overdone. It is not to be over six ounces, and there will be double the vegetables, which will be a mix of broccoli and carrots. Not asparagus, not potatoes. The third will be grilled chicken and vegetables. The same as before—broccoli and carrots. And not over six ounces of meat for that either. Dinner, the same as lunch.”

Eli’s stare came to me, but my attention went back to Everleigh as she threw me the sweetest smile. “How was that? Worthy of a Master’s wife?”

I didn’t think about the possible pain I would put her through. I pulled her to me, crushing my lips into hers. The way her body softened into mine and she wrapped her arms around my neck swept me away even more. I didn’t mind her directness toward the guards, just not me. It was perfect for Whitlock if I wanted to make my mark.

“If there will not be anything else, I’ll take my leave.”

The irritation in his voice had me breaking away to look at Eli. “Do you have a problem with my wife’s authority toward you?”

“Of course not. Mistress Harper only responded with what you asked me for.”

“So it’s me you have a problem with?”

“Not a problem. Just don’t forget who your friends are.”

He glanced at Everleigh before turning to head for the door. When it shut, I turned back to my wife, pressing my lips into hers again. “Let’s eat. Then we’ll go home. I’m going to have them reopen Ol’ Master Whitlock’s wing. We’re going to have the best of everything. I’m going to make sure of it.”

A soft cry left Everleigh’s lips and her fingers clawed into the table as she sat down. I reached for her hand, refusing to apologize, but still letting her know I was here. Her lids opened and she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking to be careful. You were saying, Ol’

Master Whitlock’s wing? I thought that place was haunted.”

I laughed, squeezing her hand as I sat and began making my plate. She quickly began following my lead.

“There is no such thing as ghosts. Besides, even if there were, the bastard can kiss my ass. He was the biggest asshole I ever knew … but I admired parts of him. He was a powerful man. I wanted power like that someday.”

“And now you have it.”

I joined in on her smile, baffled by her change. It was like night and day. Whatever I’d done with that rape, worked.

“And now I have it,” I repeated. “Are you saddened to be going back? I know you didn’t like this place, but it has to be better than looking at white walls?”

“Whitlock makes me feel safe. Everything out here is so open.

Things are constantly moving and that makes me anxious. Cars and helicopters, I don’t like them. I like Whitlock. I like feeling confined. That’s where I belong.”

“Are you sure?”

Her head tilted. “What are you asking, husband?”

“Nothing. I’ll be coming to the outside on occasion. Probably not here, but in Denver, Los Angeles, Reno, and New York. I go all over. I just wasn’t sure how you felt about traveling with me.”

“Sounds overwhelming,” she grinned. “I would come if you wanted me to, but I won’t deny that it makes me nervous.”

“We’ll see what happens.” I grabbed my coffee, adding sugar, while

Everleigh sampled the fruit. I ate light, just watching. There was something I couldn’t put my finger on. She was a slave. I’d sent her reverting to that status after the rape. Why else would she be so compliant to give me everything? And this new mood of hers. She said she was grateful that I didn’t kill her, and that was why she was this way, but was it the truth?

“Are you going to try to run before we leave for Whitlock?”

Everleigh paused mid-chew, slowly swallowing. “Why would I run?

That leaves me stranded here. I don’t want to be here.”

“Maybe that’s just what you want me to think. Maybe you’ll leave so you can try to find some of your distant family.”

“And put them in danger? I’d have every master in Whitlock after me. No, thank you. I’m content exactly where I am.”

I nodded, frowning even more. If she wasn’t planning to escape, what was it? She had stabbed me. There was hate in her, then, and it hadn’t suddenly vanished. Unless the rape screwed her up in the head enough to make her see she was in the wrong.

“Are you going to try to kill me?”

Again, she paused. “And go to a new master? Probably one who will peel back my skin, or slowly burn me alive? No. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t have contempt toward you. I am still very upset and angry at what you did to me. But I deserved it. I see that now. I’m lucky to have a master …” She grew quiet. “A husband who wants to take such good care of me. And you’re not mean all the time. I saw my mistake and I’m grateful you chose me.”

I stayed quiet, drinking coffee.

“It’s the children, then. You’re doing this for them.”

Her hands came down on the table and she leaned more toward me. “They weigh heavily on my mind, but my behavior is not based around them. Yes, I’m worried about their safety. I don’t want them a part of Whitlock. But you’re the Master. You know how I feel and what I’d like to happen. It doesn’t change that the decision is ultimately up to you. I’m your wife now. Something I never thought I’d be to anyone. You have no idea what that means to me. I’ve been blessed, and for that, I am devoted to you.”

“I appreciate that, but you have to know. I won’t be releasing them. I can’t. If Whitlock is going to thrive, it has to be done. I’ve watched the decline in funds since Bram took over. His way just wasn’t working. He tried to clean it up. He tried to make things better, but it was only a matter of time before it fell around us. I mean, look at how empty Whitlock is. It never used to be like this. Men like the masters there, they don’t just pay for slaves. They pay for murder, pedophilia, all of the stuff that would have them arrested here. That’s what Whitlock is about. And that’s the way

I will make it again.”

Everleigh’s eyes lowered and I grabbed a slice of bacon, tearing into it.

“Don’t pout. I don’t like pouting. It’s just the facts and it’s best to move on. I won’t be swayed. Why don’t you focus on something else? Interior design. You can look through colors and fabrics and all that wifely stuff and fix up our new wing just the way you want it.”

Her eyes eased up, then, and her head lifted. “You would let me fix our place anyway I wanted? Me?”

“Except pink. No pink. Or yellow, for that matter.

Unless it’s more gold. Other than that, yes.”

A smile appeared and comfort within me grew. Simple. I’d give her something to do and she’d stay out of my business. Married life wouldn’t be so bad, and Whitlock would once again reign supreme for the men who wanted to pay a fortune for their sins.