Psychiatrist's Puppet (Loftry University Playthings 3)

Chastity fiddlesin her seat next to me as we drive to the main castle. I can’t even begin to fathom what’s going through her head, but anxiety pours off of her in waves. Her hand feels so small, so cold in mine as I bring it to my lips. That seems to calm her for a bit, but as soon as I break contact, she’s back to nearly breaking.

“I need to know what the worst thing you think is going to happen to you tonight.”

“I really don’t want to say.”

“And why not?”

“What if I’m wrong and I give you another idea?”

A surprised laugh manages to escape my lips, but I cover it up with a cough. She’s deadly serious, and I need to give her the respect of taking her concerns as such.

“I doubt what you have to say will be anything like what I have planned for you. Go ahead and tell me.”

“You-you’re going to give me away to someone else. Aren’t you? Possibly share me.”

White encroaches my vision as I digest her words. The day any other male touches my Chastity will be the day they will wish they had died.

“I don’t often promise things, but I can promise you that no man will lay a finger on you. Hell, if another man so much as looks at you wrong, he may end up unable to see.”

Her soft smile makes me think she thinks I’m joking. Never before have I felt this unsettled rage in my gut. Perhaps after Melody’s punishment, it will quiet down, but I suspect it never will.

“I will tell you this. You will need to trust me. As long as you trust me, everything will be fine.”

We pull up to the castle, and her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. If she thinks the exterior is impressive, I can’t wait for her to see the inside. Most of the members are starting to arrive, far more than I’ve seen in a while. No doubt they want to see the woman that took the biggest player off the field. Well, let them watch. This will be the one and only time they’ll get so much as a glimpse of her naked. I step out and go over to her side, slipping my hand in my pocket for the tenth time to feel the four small coils of rope.

I help her out, marveling at how the cape billows out around her, making her look like a fallen angel, ripe for the plucking. She still has her dress on underneath, but I’ll get her properly prepared once we get inside. The doors open for us, and I drag Chastity closer to me. Her body is shaking in my arms as she looks at all the masked people coming in.

“Steady. Breathe with me. In. Out. In. Out. No one will touch you. You have my word.” Her trembling lessens to a small quake as she huddles as close to me as she can get. Pulling her over to a private alcove. I take the cape off and drape it on a table next to us. “This is where you’re going to have to start trusting me. I’m going to take off your dress now and put your cape back on you.”

She nods, her face ashen. Bending low, I slide my lips across hers, distracting her as I unzip the dress from behind. One tug here and there, and the dress falls to the floor in a puddle, leaving her naked to my gaze. Hands around her waist, I hoist her up onto the table and spread her thighs, happy to find her wet for me.

“Hold onto my shoulders.”

Her fingers dig into my skin, sparking pricks of pain along the site. Humming my approval, I dive in, lapping at her. Her body vibrates again, but this time in pleasure instead of fear. I’m relentless, licking, sucking, nibbling, devouring her until she falls apart in my arms.

I wanted to wait until I claimed her, but I’m not heartless. The rush of endorphins should help the next bit. I still don’t know how she’ll react to my disciplining Melody, but her thoughts on the matter don’t make a difference now.

Sliding her off, I gather her cloak around her, handing her the edges so she can grip it as tightly as she wants. I wrap my arm around her and lead her into the main atrium. The bed she will be tied to soon sits off to the side, beckoning me to drop this vendetta and just focus on claiming my woman. But I can’t. I can’t let what happened last night slide.

Chastity looks around at everything and everyone, her gaze never settling. I try to see it from her eyes and not as someone who’s frequented this building far too many times to count. As the Dominants and submissives take their places, I shuffle her over to Grigori. After everything, he’s always had my back, no questions asked. I trust him to keep her safe while I’m occupied.

“Quiet.” John’s voice booms over the din, bringing a revenant hush to the place. “As you all know, we are here for several events tonight. We have a public punishment, though I didn’t expect another one so soon.” He pauses to glare at Chelsea, drawing a chuckle from Grigori. “An initiation,” he continues. “And a binding ceremony.”

The side doors open, and two men drag Melody out into the center. Smatterings of whispers flood the area as they realize who is being brought in. No doubt they never thought they’d see her here. If I wasn’t involved so intimately, I wouldn’t have believed it either. Jeremy follows the three, his lips set into a firm line. He’s not happy about the situation. Neither would I if I was in his place, but then, I’m not.

“Who brings forth charges against Melody Davenport?”

“I do.”

Chastity looks at me, tears welling in her eyes. “Please don’t, I -.”

“Trust me.” I pull her hands off of me and stand in the center next to Melody. “The actions of this submissive not only endangered the life of mine but also put The Society at risk. I have spoken with her Dominant, and we have agreed on a course of action. She is to be punished by me as a way of repentance, as well as in front of The Society so they may bear witness and be satisfied.”

“Is this agreeable to the council?” All eyes turn to John, no one speaking out. Jeremy grinds his teeth but remains silent. “Then you may begin.”

“Put her on the cross.”

Soft sobs reach my ears, but I don’t turn to look at Chastity. This has to happen whether she likes it or not. I cannot allow this to go unchecked. I’m sure Jeremy has already punished Melody, but I can't let her think that the repercussions stop there. I take my time at the implement rack, unable to decide what to start with. Mostly, I want her to have this time to conjure up every painful scenario she can.

The mind is so much more capable of pain and violence than we give it credit for. I trail my fingers over the bullwhip, turning back to find Melody watching me, her eyes wide and wet. The sheer terror on her face as I linger there has me smiling. But no. Whips are not really my thing. Paddles aren’t either. Besides, Jeremy used that when she was caught cheating, and this is far worse of a crime. What to do; what to do?

Perfect. I pull the strap off the wall and weigh it in my hands. Stiff but broken in. I examine the leather, making sure there are no frayed ends or anything that would actually injure her before walking back over to the cross.

“Oh, Melody. You know, I was going to fuck with your mind, leaving you broken and trembling, a shell of the quivering little girl you are. I wanted so bad to punish Jeremy for plucking you out of my grasp those several months ago.” I slide my fingers across her cheek, relishing in the small wince as she tries to put on a brave face but fails miserably.

Tears stain her cheeks and even more glisten in her eyes. She’s trussed up just for me - waiting for me to do my worst. It should stir me. But it doesn't. Nothing about her calls to me. Instead, chocolate eyes, so full of fear tinged with hope, swims into view. Chastity.