Chapter 8
Hook
It’s been years since I’ve seen Tink look so fragile. I hate that talking about the past fucks with her like this, though I can hardly blame her for it. She survived Peter. It’s more than others can say. Guilt pricks me, both remembered and current. Hearing her say the truth aloud feels different than when I was putting together this Hail Mary plan. I’m using her as bait. I dragged her back into my world in service of finishing this fight with Peter. I meant what I said about not letting him near her, but he’s more than capable of hurting her without laying hands on her again.
He’s doing it right now, reaching through the years to put those shadows in her eyes.
I can’t take back those memories. But I’ll sure as shit put some good ones in her head tonight. It’s the least I can do, considering what this marriage will cost her. More, I want to. That’s reason enough for me.
I climb out of the booth and hold out my hand, a silent command. It’s a token of how off-center she is that she takes it without complaint. Eyes follow us as I lead her to the door to the public playroom. As usual on the weekends, Allecto leans against the wall next to it. Her dark gaze flicks over me and Tink and the spot where I have her hand in mine. “Interesting turn of events.”
“Allecto,” Tink warns.
The Fury shakes her head slowly, expression downright dangerous. “I think I’ll tag along when you have coffee with Aurora.”
Tink tenses. “You heard that.”
“You know better. I hear everything that goes on in this place.” She shifts her attention to me, and it’s everything I can do not to tense, too. Crossing Allecto is a good way to lose a limb. There’s a reason she’s Hades’s head of security, and it’s not simply because she has a habit of knowing things she shouldn’t. She can also take down damn near anyone in this room without breaking a sweat. She narrows her eyes. “You fuck with her, you fuck with me. You got it?”
“I’ll follow the rules while I’m playing in Hades’s territory.”
She doesn’t like that, but she can’t do shit about it. This only works if Hades keeps control of his people. If they go out hunting in others’ territories, we’re looking at an all-out war, and no one wants that. It cuts into the bottom line and everyone will lose valuable people. Bad for business across the board.
Finally, she steps aside. “Carry on, then.”
The public playroom is mostly empty, the various couches and equipment unoccupied and practically shining with invitation. More people will trickle in as the night continues, but right now there are only two scenes going on. Meg is whipping Hercules, the long tail an extension of her arm. She’s completely focused on him as she draws her arm back and flicks it forward to strike. The other is a couple I don’t recognize fucking on the spanking bench.
Normally, I’d linger. I like watching Meg work, and she does it in public less and less as time goes on. But I can’t tonight.
As we head into the hallways with the themed rooms, I glance back at Tink. She’s still got that fragile look on her face. Damn it. I stop in front of the door leading to our destination and squeeze her hand. “Stay with me.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
Not quite her usual snark, but it will have to do. I open the door and tow her inside. She looks around and snorts. “A bed? Really? How vanilla of you.”
The room is more suite than simple bedroom. Though there’s a bed nearly as large as mine taking up half the room, there’s also a trio of overstuffed chairs next to a gas fireplace. It’s cozy and romantic and perfect for what I have planned. A wedding night to remember.
I motion to the spot in front of the fire. “Stand there.”
Tink slowly walks over. The firelight plays on her pale skin and golden hair, flickering over her curves in a way I’m almost jealous of. Soon. Soon, I’ll have her in every way I want her. I move to her and drag a hand down her back to her ass. “Tell me your safe word.”
Her sigh is her only protest. “Pirate.”
I fucking love that she picked that word. I love what it means, that somewhere in that pretty head of hers, she was thinking of me all this time. “Good girl.” I unzip the back of her dress, careful with the tiny zipper. She wiggles out of it and I have to stop a minute and just appreciate the sight of Tink in white lingerie. Her bra lifts her breasts up and creates some truly impressive cleavage. Her panties are barely there. And the fucking garter belt and thigh highs. I simultaneously want to rip every single piece of lingerie off her and also keep her in it forever.