A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

My feet move as if they knew they had to, treading forward across the pavement, along the beautiful flowers and the big fountain in the middle that I’ve only seen from a car window.

My hand slides along the stone and dips into the cold water, and I close my eyes while taking in a whiff of the air, just as Easton did.

When I open my eyes again, he’s suddenly right in front of me.

I clutch my chest, and he chuckles.

“You didn’t have to follow me,” he says, glancing at the fountain.

I wipe my wet hand on my dress. “What else was I supposed to do?”

Easton touches the water the same way I did. “Make a choice.”

He cocks his head and stares at me. Then he turns around and walks off toward the gates, and I’m left trying to catch my breath. After everything that was said and done, this is what he wants me to do? Make a choice? I already did when I chose Ashanti. That means being with him for the rest of my life. I don’t understand what else he wants from me.

I tag along behind him as the gates open, and the outside world is within my reach once again. Approaching a parked car out front, he opens the back door and slides inside, leaving it open while gazing at me.

I stand frozen to the ground.

He doesn’t invite me in, but he doesn’t tell me to stay away either.

Should I run or stay or go with him?

He hasn’t told me what he wants to do or where we’ll go. It could be someplace I’ll never return from. Maybe now that he’s had his way with me, he’s done playing with me and wants to discard me. But that might be my irrational brain talking after all those confusing emotions flushed through me.

Easton apologized to me for what he did. He’d never apologize to someone unless they meant a great deal to him.

Still, I could choose to run. I’m outside the gates with no guards around and nothing to stop me. I could, but my heart longs to know where this may go, and the devil leads me astray.

Before I know it, my feet have already stepped toward the car, and Easton scoots aside while I sit down beside him.

The driver closes the door, but this time, it isn’t a stark reminder of my captivity. It’s a fitting answer to a question that wasn’t asked. A choice … that I just made.

We ride in silence. He probably wouldn’t tell me the truth if I asked where we’re going. His hand slides over mine, squeezing softly, and a warm fuzziness courses through my body. It’s the first time I’ve ever wanted to squeeze back.

Halfway through the ride, Easton suddenly withdraws his hand and fumbles in his pocket. He pulls out a black cloth and holds it up. “I want you to wear this.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

“It’s a surprise,” he says.

A good surprise or a bad one?

He folds the scarf around my eyes and makes a knot behind my head, securing it tight. His finger lingers around my ear, caressing my neckline as he leans in to whisper, “Don’t peek.”

The darkness in his voice brings tingles to my body, and I instinctively lean in to him even though I always swore I’d never want to. No matter how hard I try to deny it, I am falling for him and his seductive ways …

“Where are we going?” I murmur as the car drives on.

“You’ll see,” he whispers, and a smile creeps across my lips.

I don’t know why this gets me so excited, but apparently, I love the thrill of not knowing what’s about to happen. Maybe Easton was right when he said I love to give up control. To surrender brings my body into a trance, amplifying every sensation until I lose myself in the moment.

Just as I do when he’s touching me.

Using me.

Fucking me.

Easton loves control, and I love … submission.

Is it true? Was I this powerless against his seduction all along, while fighting the inevitable?

I can’t ask him or myself that. If I did, it’d mean admitting all I thought about us was wrong.

The car stops, and my moment to myself ends. Easton steps out, and I wait until he opens my door. “Grab my hand,” he says, and I reach out until I find it.

I step out and follow him with gentle steps, afraid I might fall, but I know he’ll catch me if I do. His strong hand keeps me steady as we walk toward something, and Easton rings a doorbell.

A door opens. “Charlotte?”

My heart stops beating.

“You can take off the blindfold now,” Easton says with a soft voice.

I tear off the scarf with tears in my eyes as I rush toward the door.

“Deion,” I mutter, and I hug him tight.