Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)
“What’s going on?”
Christopher’s hand rounds my bare arse to the juncture of where cheek meets thigh. His short nails bite into my flesh, and all I can do not to gasp is bury my face in his chest, clutching at the V of his vest as he grinds my body against his hard, muscled one.
“Tell you what,” he murmurs, burying his face in my hair, “I’ll let you decide on the punishment. You have all night. A long drive to think about it.”
Where are we going?
“What do you think you deserve?” Breathing into my ear, he claws deeper, his other hand cupping my jaw. “Should I tie you up and leave you until you understand the meaning of do not move?”
I try to steady my shaking breaths, but it’s impossible with the way my entire body is tightening and coiling.
“Or maybe I should spank some acquiescence into you. Do you think it could burn through your skin and flesh, to your bones?”
The images in my head that translate into feeling won’t let me speak. I can barely think.
Pressing my thighs as tightly together as I can, I hold on to him for dear life. For fear that all my bodily functions are screwed, and if he lets me go, I’ll fall flat on my arse.
Perhaps that’s what he wants. Me completely stupefied by lust at his feet. Perhaps anticipation is the punishment, because I’m dying to feel him use and abuse my body, but I already know it won’t happen anytime soon.
Releasing me, Christopher steps away, wrapping his arm around my shoulders as he faces Casper and Georgina again.
“I’ll let Herald’s Hold know we’re on our way. To avoid any unnecessary blood spillages, she goes with you. Fleur goes with Fred.”
“She?” Georgina grits at his dismissiveness of her.
“Yes, she. You, Georgina.” Christopher sighs. “You’ll go with your brother, and before you ask what’s going on or what we’re doing again…all you need to know is that we’re keeping you alive. We’re keeping all of us alive. Co-operate.”
“I have rehearsals. I can’t simply up and leave.”
“You’re sick, but you’ll be all better by Tuesday.”
“By Tuesday?”
“Yes.”
She stares each of us out with a scowl.
“What? Do you think you’re the only one with a job?” Christopher starts towards the bedroom, turning his back on the room.
“Wait.” Grabbing my arm when I turn to follow him, she looks me over from head t
o toe. “Arabella…”
My gaze darts to Casper. I expect him to be more forthcoming with how to proceed. I don’t know what to tell her. If it were up to me, I’d tell her everything.
I’m aware of what Christopher just said, but we’ve been down this road before, withholding secrets and danger from the people we care about, and it only results in more secrets, more danger, and immeasurable tragedy.
She should know the truth.
Casper’s shrug doesn’t enlighten me on what to do. So, I go with my gut. “Tell her.”
“Tell me what?” She squeezes my arm, pity glowing in her eyes like it always does.
Maybe after this she won’t look at me like that again. Perhaps she’ll finally see my choices differently.
“What you want to know,” I tell her plainly, my heightened emotions nudging me towards exhaustion.
Looking behind me to Christopher, Casper nods before pulling Georgina with him towards the sofas. He pours her a cup of tea, pushing a slice of cake in front of her like that’s what’s going to stop her from losing her mind.