Chapter 58

West

My poor little pretender posing as my loving pet—my faithful wife. The way she lightly snored and rested against my chest. The way she talked in her sleep. I glared at the ceiling, trying to get control over the need to snap her neck and throw her off of me.

“B … ram?”

“What?” My jaw clenched repeatedly, even if I did keep my voice quiet. I should leave it alone. I should ignore who she subconscious called to. For the life of me, I couldn’t. I needed the violence against her. I needed to hurt her more than beating her pussy up. If she was calling to him, I didn’t have her yet. And hadn’t I thought maybe I was getting close?

A moan had her snuggling deeper into me. My fist clenched and what I had said to her came back to haunt me. Had I whispered I could love her? Had I spoken that lie? Lie … maybe not entirely. I wanted to trust her so I could let go of some of this fury. Anyone could close themselves off to emotion. But to love a person … it made you more of everything. More of a leader … more of a killer. Hadn’t Bram told me that once?

What sounded like a soft giggle tore into my heart. I rolled her on her back, putting my weight on top of her as I fit myself between her legs. Everleigh’s eyes blinked heavily and there was a hesitation before she seemed to force a smile to her face.

“Good dreams?”

The grin turned genuine as she turned into my forearm, snuggling her face back into me.

“I don’t know. I really can’t remember.”

“No? That’s too bad. You sleep so sweet. I bet you’re just as beautiful when you scream. Let’s find out. Be sure to cry out for Bram, again. Maybe he’ll come and rescue you.”

Everleigh’s eyes flew open and her attention jerked to me. I ripped the pillow out from behind her head and slammed it over her face. Muffled screams were automatic. Nails clawed into my arms and her legs went wild, pressing into the bed as she tried to twist herself free. But it was impossible with the hold I had on her face.

“Bram? Bram?” My voice yelled out loudly. “Where are you? My wife needs your help.” I waited out the time, lifting the pillow, letting her gasp for breath when I noticed her movements slowing. “That’s who you want, right? Bram? Not me? Maybe I should call to him again.”

“No! N—”

The end was cut off as I pushed the pillow back over her face. At her lack of fighting like before, my rage eased into anger. I took a calming breath, holding a few more seconds before I removed it once again. The intake of air was loud. My hands shot down just over her shoulders, trapping her from moving.

“I had such a good day planned for us and now you’ve ruined it.

You’re mine. This,” I said, tapping against her temple, “belongs to me, too. If you don’t get Bram out of your head, I’ll smother him out. Do you understand me?”

“I didn’t know,” she rushed. “I … yes.”

“Good.”

I went to crawl off of her when her hand reached up, gripping my bicep. My pause had her palm cautiously rising to settle on the side of my throat. My eyes narrowed, but she continued to slide her grip around to the back of my neck. Pressure tried to pull me down and although I fought her for the slightest moment, I couldn’t stop myself from lowering.

“Smother him from me. Make it stop.”

Tears clouded her eyes while she led my mouth to hers. The kiss was firm but full of something that left my mind twirling. I wanted to believe she was telling the truth. There were moments where she seemed to try to please me. To feel something for me. She tried …

“Do you choose me?”

I lifted enough to meet her stare. Disbelief flickered but softened out as she gazed up.

“It’s always been you.”

“No.” I gave a hard shake, dislodging her hand. “You picked him.

Your scene at his grave …”

“You saw me grieve over a man who spent years protecting me.

Killing for me. We shared something, yes. I won’t deny that. He protected me when no one else did. I held to that until I realized that’s exactly what you’ve been doing too. You have, haven’t you?”

Confusion and truths left me silent. I could tell her yes, that I had Master Vicolette killed. I could tell her a lot of things, but I kept quiet.

“Get dressed. I’m going to make coffee.”

I pushed from the bed, grabbing my pajama bottoms to slide on. The frame creaked behind me and I knew she was obeying. She was good at that. She listened to me, even when she didn’t want to. Just like in the case of her slave friend. What she’d done had to prove something. She may have fought the bath, but she’d helped skin a slave because I told her to. This Bram thing, it would pass.

Water in the distance had my attention leaving the coffee pot as I got it prepared. She had started the shower.  Although there was a need to go and push her further, to wait for her to get out and oil her up so I could have my way with her, I ignored the need. There was too much to do. And maybe I wasn’t entirely in the mood to have her so unresponsive. She had passion when we’d been together. Angry passion. It worked a magic I wasn’t even aware of. I liked her fight. More than I thought I would.

I pressed the start button, turning and heading back to the room. A slight shuffling sound from the closet had my eyes narrowing. I looked between the bathroom and back to the closet. Each step was quiet as I neared. When I peeked inside, Everleigh was shuffling through my clothes.

“What are you doing?”

She jumped, spinning to face me. “I …”

“I asked you a question. Are you looking for something?”

A blush crept to her cheeks and she nodded. “I am. You said you had plans for us today. That was going to be a good day. Since we’ve been back and you’ve taken the position of Main Master, I know there’s an appearance you must uphold. I only wanted to assess your wardrobe so I could do my best to match you and look good by your side. Your ties … the colors are vast. I was thinking that it wouldn’t be hard for me to find something if you only told me what it is you plan to wear.”

“Match me?” I looked from her to the expensive suits that newly lined my closet. Ones, I never thought about wasting money on before. Yes, she did try to please me. “Well, I’ll wear this one. Red tie. If I recall, you have a red dress. It’s very modest, yet fitting in stature. Wear that. We’ll match.”

She bit against her bottom lip smiling for only a second before she leaned in, pushing to her tiptoes to kiss against my cheek. “Thank you, husband.” And like that, she was gone.

My eyebrows drew in and I glanced around the space, taking in all the shoes and clothes. There wasn’t anything else she could have been looking for or found here. Clothes …? I had to get used to this. She may have been a slave, but she was still a woman. Still groomed to please in all ways.

I grabbed the suit, walking to place it on the bed. Humming left me even more conflicted and I pushed the pajama bottoms down, heading in the direction of the bathroom. Everleigh was just stepping into the shower as I walked through the door. She paused, holding the door ajar as she raked her gaze over my body. It was full of lust and with the look she threw me, all I could do was stand there like a fool.

“Are you coming?” At the lick of her lips, I was lost—heading in her direction without so much as a thought of the early angers that were inside me.