Monsters' Gift (Crude Hill High 2)

No one did.

They all turned away as if they hadn’t seen anything.

We didn’t hire cowards and the men here were loyal and even still, it pissed me off.

Following Caleb and a wriggling, curse-spewing Emily into our home, I wasn’t shocked when he took her straight upstairs, going to one of our guest bedrooms. It made me smile when I saw he’d picked the one with a four-poster bed. The things we could do to her just by tying her up. It would be a whole lot of fun.

He dumped her on the bed and tied the rope around the board, knotting it up.

“You think this is funny?” she asked.

“What I’m doing is for your own good.” He snarled at her.

“Well, look at you, you taking charge. Where’s your daddy? Don’t you need to go and kiss his arse?” The way she spoke now had an English twang to her words, and it was so fucking sexy.

Caleb fisted some of her hair. “I don’t need my daddy. I’m the one in charge. You’re at our mercy, Emily. So, it’s about time you start playing nice with us.”

“I have played nice. Ask Gael. I’m sure you already know about River and Vadik. Just you left, and guess what, I’m not going to be giving you anything.” She tried to pull away but his grip kept her immobile. They were both panting and just watching them made my cock hard.

I’d missed her fire, her passion, her mouth. The times we’d shared when we were younger, they hadn’t been enough. I couldn’t stop looking at her.

“Oh, you will, Emily. You’re going to give me everything and what’s more, you’re going to beg me for it.”

“Think again.”

“No? Put it this way, unless you start to learn to play nice, you’re never going to see your friend again.” Caleb slammed his lips down on hers as I turned to look at Gael and Vadik for any idea what he was fucking doing.

Of course, we didn’t give anything away.

Caleb pulled away.

“River, let me out,” she said. Her lips were swollen and her cheeks flushed.

I shook my head and turned on my heel.

Next, she called Vadik and then Gael. All of us left, not getting involved. Caleb closed the door, flicking the lock into place.

“You want to tell us what that was all about?” I asked.

“I need a drink.”

“You had plenty on the plane.” We all had our vices, but we’d made sure not one of us succumbed to the addiction. For now, it had been easy, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t change. I stared at him, waiting.

Caleb looked at me. “Don’t for a second think you can tell me what to do. I need a drink, sleep, and then I’ll deal with the wildcat. Until then, stay out of my fucking face.”

He pushed away from us and I let him go. We were all tense, and I couldn’t say I blamed him.

“I’m out,” Gael said. Before he left, he put his palm flat against the wood of the door. “She’s finally home where she’s supposed to be.”

It was the first time he’d looked at peace.

With him gone, it left me and Vadik.

“What are your thoughts on this?” I asked.

Vadik looked at the door. “She’s home. That’s all we need.”

He left me alone. Probably to go and draw another picture for his constant shrine to her. He’d have plenty of inspiration today.

Me, I looked at the door. I didn’t want to leave, but I also couldn’t face her yet. I wasn’t ready.

I didn’t know what Caleb’s game was, but I had to be in control and ready for whatever he planned to dish out. It was going to get messy. I knew it was, deep down in my soul.

We’d stolen Emily, bargained her friend’s life, and we could have just handed her a death sentence. I didn’t trust Earl Valentine, but for now, I intended to just get some sleep. It was all I could do.

****

Caleb

Sleep wasn’t as easy to come by as I thought it would be, which pissed me off. After how long I’d been up, you’d think I would be able to just hit the pillow and be out for the count. Not even a little bit, which pissed me off.

Running a hand down my face, I stood outside Emily’s door.

I’d gotten the cook and a couple of housekeepers to go to her, but they’d come back covered in soup, along with bite marks.

The one on my arm still felt good to me. I enjoyed the pain. It showed she still had feelings for us, even if she did try to hide it. There was no getting away from what we were to each other.

In my hand, I held a bag of chips and a sandwich.

Opening the door, I found Emily sitting on the bedroom floor, her hands clasped together. She tilted her head back and looked at me.